The present invention relates to a novel formulation comprising a benzimidazole derivative. The formulation for oral administration comprising a compound of Formula 1 according to the present invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and at least one disintegrant selected from the group consisting of croscarmellose sodium, sodium starch glycolate and low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose, exhibits an excellent storage stability and has an effect on preventing a phenomenon of decline in dissolution rate, thus being usefully used as a formulation for oral administration.

It is obviously known in the art that even formulations comprising the same active component may show a difference in pharmaceutically important properties such as the solubility, dissolution characteristics and bioavailability of the active component comprised in the formulations depending on an additional constitutional component comprised therein. Thus, in addition to a development of a novel compound, it is also very important to develop a constituent comprised in a formulation so as to maximize a pharmacological effect of the novel, developed compound.
Meanwhile, (S)-4((5,7-difluorochroman-4-yl)oxy)-N,N-2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-6-carboxamide is known to have a use for preventing and treating diseases mediated by an acid pump antagonistic activity, such as gastrointestinal diseases, for example, a gastroesophageal disease, a gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a peptic ulcer, a gastric ulcer, a duodenal ulcer, an NSAID-induced ulcer, gastritis, a Helicobacter pylori infection, dyspepsia, functional dyspepsia, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a nonerosive reflux disease (NERD), a visceral pain, purosis, nausea, esophagitis, dysphagia, salivation, an airway lesion or asthma (WO 2007/072146).
However, the above compound has a problem in that its bioavailability and onset of drug action may become instable due to a phenomenon of decline in dissolution rate with an elapsed time of storage, thus still requiring a more research on solving such problem.

Preparation containing benzimidazole derivative


An air cleaner having a minus ion generator and a positive electrode. The minus ion generator carries a high minus voltage, and the positive electrode carries a high plus voltage. Preferably, the minus ion generator has a heater. The air cleaner may have an absorbing sheet positioned close to the positive electrode. Preferably, the minus ion generator is spaced apart from the positive electrode by a distance not less than a half of the maximum distance between walls of room. Preferably, the high plus voltage is not less than 4,000 Volts, and the absolute value of the high minus voltage is larger than the absolute value of the high plus voltage. Preferably, the air cleaner has a sterilizing function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air cleaner for removing house dust and an air cleaner with a sterilization function to remove bacteria and virus from air in a room.
2. Related Art
Recently, it has been reported that one-third or one-fourth of Japanese people have an allergy. Thus, it is desired to remove house dust which is disadvantageous for persons having an allergy.
The house dust consists of minute particles floating ina room. The house dust includes those derived from mites (acarid), fine fibers, food drops, and pollen or spore of a plant. Tobacco smoke is also included in the house dust.
The airborne infection (including droplet infection) of bacteria, viruses, and the like is caused by coughs and sneezing of sick persons or carriers. Recently, it has been a social problem that a mass infection appears in a hospital, an old-aged home, and a physical care house particularly due to pathogenic microbes. The microbes include phthisis germs, derived from a carrier thereof and Legionella germs contained in droplets of a cooling water of an air-conditioner.
One of such air cleaners for removing house dust, bacteria, and virus is an electrical-discharge-type air cleaner having a minus ion generator. FIG. 5 shows an example of the air cleaner.
To provide a minus ion generator, an aerial conductive wire carrying a high minus voltage is developed, and a non-woven fabric is arranged near the wire. The non-woven fabric is grounded through a ground pole or carries a high plus voltage through a positive pole.
The house dust and bacteria which are floating in air are charged by minus ions when they come close to the wire, so that the non-woven fabric catches them. Then, the non-woven fabric which has caught the house dust and bacteria is adequately replaced by a new one.
Note that the air cleaner is generally received in an air-permeable housing to protect the wire.
However, the electrical-discharge-type air cleaner generates ultraviolet rays due to the electric discharge between the minus ion generator and the positive/ground pole, which generates ozone. Thus, the air cleaner has a disadvantage that is the same as an ultraviolet-ray-type bactericidal lamp and an ozone generator. Moreover, it is generally overlooked that the electrical-discharge-type air cleaner generates ozone and ultraviolet rays which are harmful. Such air cleaners have been often positioned undesirably near a sleeping baby for supplying clean air.
The conventional air cleaner takes a long time until it effectively operates. For example, The time is 30 minutes to one hour for a room having a general size. Thus, persons in the room remain exposed to house dust, bacteria, and viruses, for example, due to smoking, airborne dust, and a cough of a sick person having viruses until the air cleaner operates effectively.
Another air cleaner removing house dust by a filter takes a time between 30 minutes and one hour until it operates effectively. The filter should be a specially designed one which is expensive for removing house dust consisting of particles of micron or sub-micron sizes such as tobacco smoke, bacteria, and virus. Moreover, such a filter provides a combatively larger pressure loss and requires a powerful fan, which causes an increased electrical energy and a noise problem. In addition, the filter has a shorter service life to require frequent replacements thereof. Furthermore, the filter-type air cleaner has the disadvantage that a bactericidal means is not effectively provided for sterilization of the bacteria which is caught by the filter.
For sterilization of airborne bacteria, there may be provided a means such as an ultraviolet-ray-type bactericidal lamp, an ozone generator, or an agent spraying device. An appropriate concentration of ozone generated by the bactericidal lamp is 0.1 PPM, for example in an office. However, the ozone having this concentration still irritates a mucosa of a nose, an eye, or a throat. Furthermore, the ozone provides an odor undesirable for a surrounding air. To remove the undesirable odor, an activated carbon filter is required. The ozone may cause a harmful NOx.
Meanwhile, the bactericidal lamp irradiates ultraviolet rays directly into a human body with an adverse effect. Even ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 260 nanometers which provides a maximum bactericidal effect require several hours to kill bacteria such as colibacillus. This is disadvantageous for a quick sterilization. In addition, the ultraviolet ray degrades a metal, a rubber, and a plastic product, and it also generates harmful ozone. An agent is not adequately sprayed in an environment in which persons are always present, and the effectiveness of the agent will not reliably continue.
In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages, an object of the invention is to provide an air cleaner and an air cleaning method according to the present invention, which allows an effective, quick air cleaning and air sterilization with no use of ozone, ultraviolet ray, and agents which are harmful and uncomfortable for persons.
For achieving the object, an air cleaner of a first aspect of the present invention includes a minus ion generator and a positive electrode. The minus ion generator uses a high minus voltage, and the positive electrode carries a high plus voltage. The minus ion generator can be positioned apart from the plus ion electrode, allowing an effective, quick air cleaning for a desired space.
Preferably, the minus ion generator has a heater, which generates effectively minus ions, allowing a quicker air cleaning.
Preferably, the positive electrode carrying the high plus voltage is positioned close to an absorbing sheet, which can effectively collect house dust which comes around the positive electrode.
An air cleaning method includes a minus ion generator and a positive electrode. The minus iongenerator carries a highminus voltage, and the positive electrode carries a high plus voltage. The method includes arrangement of the minus ion generator and the positive electrode which are positioned in a room for air-cleaning of the room. The minus ion generator is apart from the positive electrode by a distance not less than a half of the maximum distance between walls of the room. This allows a quick, effective air cleaning.
Note that the effect of the present invention may be decreased when there is provided a distance not enough for the quick air cleaning between the minus ion generator and the positive electrode.
Another air cleaner with a sterilizing function according to the present invention includes a minus ion generator and a positive electrode. The minus ion generator carries a high minus voltage, and the positive electrode carries a high plus voltage. The minus ion generator is separately positioned from the positive electrode. In a desired room, the minus ion generator is spaced from the positive electrode, allowing a quick, effective air cleaning.
Examples of the present invention will be discussed hereinafter. An air cleaner has a minus ion generator and a positive electrode which are arranged independently from each other. The minus ion generator carries a high minus voltage, and the positive electrode carries a high plus voltage. The minus ion generator is positioned apart from the positive electrode by a distance not less than a half of the maximum distance between walls of a room. This allows a quick, effective air cleaning and air sterilization.
For embodying the present invention, the minus ion generator and the positive electrode are positioned apart from each other by a distance which prevents an electrical discharge between them. An electrical discharge occurred between them generates ozone and ultraviolet rays. This requires an undesirable increased electrical power and obtains no effect of the present invention. The air cleaner according to the present invention is of an air condenser type consisting of the minus ion generator, the positive electrode, and air sandwiched therebetween. In the present invention, a ground voltage is a base (zero Volt) of the pole voltage. The ground voltage may be an earth voltage or may be a ground voltage of the room in which the air cleaner is disposed.
Preferably, the positive electrode carrying the high plus voltage is positioned close to an absorbing sheet having a comparatively broad surface. The absorbing sheet may be a needle punched fabric, a non-woven fabric, a woven fabric, or a knitted work. The absorbing sheet can catch the house dust and floating bacteria and viruses (which are called as the house dust hereinafter) effectively. Because, the house dust witch minus ions is drawn in the positive electrode side. The house dust can be easily sterilized. The catching and sterilizing operations are quick and reliable. The absorbing sheet having no electrical conductivity can provide a sufficient effect. Preferably, the absorbing sheet has an electrical conductivity so that the whole of the face of the absorbing sheet is effective for catching the house dust, allowing a quicker cleaning operation.
In addition, the absorbing sheet may be provided with or incorporated with a substance having a large service surface area for deodorizing air of the room at the same time. The substance is an activated carbon (including an activated carbon fabric and a fabric activated carbon), a silica gel, a zeolite, etc.
The absorbing sheet is required to be adequately replaced by a new one. Preferably, a rolled absorbing sheet fed by a drive roll may be used to intermittently provide anew part thereof when a part of the sheet has sufficiently absorbed the house dust. This greatly eliminates a large amount of manual works for replacement of the absorbing sheets. A timer may be provided to intermittently feed a length of the sheet every predetermined time. Alternatively, A stepping motor or a low speed motor may be provided to continuously feed the sheet.
Preferably, the absorbing sheet has initially a white or a bright color. The absorbing sheet becomes a dark color such as a dark brown or a gray when the sheet has caught the house dust. A roll motor is controlled to most adequately feed the sheet by sensing a light reflectance or transmittance rate of the sheet to know a changed color grade of the sheet.
The minus ion generator may have such a shape as a plate, straight wires, a net, a basket, or a honeycomb structure, as far as it is a striped electrode carrying a high minus voltage. Preferably, the electrode has a maximum area facing air and has a shape with a small pressure loss coefficient for an air flow, so that the electrode provides minus ions to the airborne house dust. Similarly, the positive electrode may have such a shape as a plate, straight wires, a net, a basket, or a honeycomb structure.
In the present invention, the minus ion generator carries a high minus voltage relative to a ground voltage, while the positive electrode carries a plus high voltage relative to the ground voltage. To prevent danger or to prevent the entry of large particles of dust, the air cleaner preferably has a housing provided with a protect means having air-permeability such as a net or an entrance consisting of slits. The housing may have a filter to prevent the entry of the large dust particles.
Preferably, the minus ion generator is provided with a heater. The heater heats air around it, for example to temperatures between 30xc2x0 C. and 80xc2x0 C. The heated air is supplied to the minus ion generator, which enables a more effective operation of the minus ionization of the house dust and the sterilization.
The minus ion generator may have an air feed means like a fan so that the house dust having the minus ions can be quickly delivered to the positive electrode side. In place of the air feed means, the heater may be positioned under the minus ion generator, or the minus ion generator may be located an air out let of an air conditioner or a vent means to maintain the same effect of the air feed means.
The air feed means may be a small fan with a smaller air feeding capacity or may be a larger one with a low rotating speed, allowing a quiet operation and a small electrical energy of the air feed means. This provides an advantage over a conventional filter-type air cleaner. That is because the minus ion generator itself has a shape with an air pressure loss coefficient, which is, for example, constituted by a large-mesh wire net or a plurality of short metal cylinders defining a honeycomb structure.
The minus ion generator and the positive electrode may be increased in number according to the shape and size of the room. Note that the minus ion generator is spaced as far as possible from the positive electrode to allow an effective removal and sterilization of the house dust.
The application voltages of the minus ion generator and the positive electrode are selected so as not to produce an electrical discharge therebetween and not to produce an electrical breakdown of a retainer of the minus ion generator.
Actually, it has been found to allow an effective removal and sterilization of the house dust that the absolute value of an application voltage of the minus ion generator is not less than the absolute value of an application voltage of the positive electrode. Furthermore, it has been found that a higher application voltage of the positive electrode produces a larger electrostatic charge in the room. The larger electrostatic charge makes persons in the room more uncomfortable due to an electrical discharge when they touch a metal like a door knob.
A minus voltage power source is provided to keep the high minus voltage of the minus ion generator, while a plus voltage power source is provided to keep the high plus voltage of the positive electrode. The power sources may be those used in a conventional air cleaner.
Note that the application voltages need not be constant but may have a small fluctuation to achieve a more effective operation of the air cleaning and bacteria removal. Such a fluctuating high voltage application is enabled by a timer circuit and a switching circuit.

Air cleaner, air cleaning method, and air cleaner with sterilization


A composite toner image made up of first and second toners is formed on an image member. A first electrostatic image of a first polarity is formed on the image member. That electrostatic image is toned with a first toner of the first polarity. The image member is imagewise exposed to create a second electrostatic image also of the first polarity. Exposure is overlapped into the portion of the image member under the first toner image to prevent any charge on the photoconductor of the first polarity underneath the first toner image from repelling toner into the portions of the second electrostatic image that are discharged. Preferably, the second exposure is accomplished through the base of the image member in order to thoroughly expose portions of the electrostatic image underneath the first toner image.

This invention relates to the formation of two or more toner images in a single frame or area of an image member. Although not limited thereto, it is particularly usable in forming accent color images on a single frame of an image member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,028 to Mosehauer et al is representative of a number of references describing a process in which a photoconductive image member is uniformly charged and imagewise exposed to create an electrostatic image. Toner is applied to the electrostatic image to create a toner image. Usually, in this process, discharged area development is used. Thus, the toner applied is of the same polarity as the electrostatic image. It deposits in the areas of lowest charge (the discharged areas) to form a toner image having a density which is greatest in the portions of the image receiving the greatest exposure.
Although not absolutely necessary in this process, the image member is, again, uniformly charged with a charge of the same polarity as the original charge. It is, again, imagewise exposed to form a second electrostatic image, generally in the portions of the image member not covered by the first toner image. The second electrostatic image is toned, again with a toner of the same polarity as the charge to create a second toner image. The process can be repeated with a third electrostatic image toned by a third color toner to create a three color image, etc. The two (or more) color image is transferred in a single step to a receiving sheet and fused also in a single step.
Although the process is not necessarily limited to such applications, it is most commonly used to provide accent color prints or copies with laser or LED printhead electronic exposure. All commercial applications known to us use electronic exposure and discharged area development.
The process has a number of advantages in accent color applications. It eliminates the troublesome and expensive steps usually used in registering images at transfer. If it uses separate exposure stations, it can produce accent color output at the same speed as single color output.
It is important that the second and subsequent toning steps not disturb the first toner image. Otherwise, toner from the first toner image gets mixed into the second development station ("scavenging") and toner from the second development station can be deposited on the first toner image ("overtoning"). Recharging between images reduces overtoning. Much of the art prior to Mosehauer recommends use of projection toning for the second and subsequent toning steps in order not to disturb the first image. The Mosehauer patent suggests that excellent results are obtained using a high coercivity carrier in a two component magnetic brush having a rotating magnetic core. The Mosehauer approach provides high density images at high process speed with less color mixing than other high density, high speed systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,740 (Matsushita) notes a problem observed in such systems that when the second electrostatic image includes discharged areas immediately next to the first toner image, the first toner has a tendency to migrate into the second image. The solution suggested is to leave a one pixel gap from the first image in the second exposure. This can be accomplished in an electronic exposure system providing registration between the two exposures is very accurate. However, it requires excellent registration and leaves a thin, untoned area between the two images which can show up as a white streak or "halo".
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,292 shows a system, used commercially, in which a series of color separation images are formed on a single image member using liquid developing. The first image is heated to dry it so it is fixed during the second exposure. The second exposure is made through a transparent support in order to create an electrostatic image that, in fact, overlaps the first color image, which electrostatic image is toned to form overlapping color toner images. This process is also carried out with discharged area development and the image member is recharged between images.
Many prior patents show exposure through a base of a photoconductive member for various purposes, usually associated with using the same magnetic brush to both clean and develop or trying to expose and develop at the same time. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,703,335; 5,159,389; and 5,053,821.

Method and apparatus for forming two toner images in a single frame


There is provided an error correction decoding apparatus including a first operating unit including a Galois field polynomial operation circuit for obtaining a Galois field polynomial, a second operating unit including a Galois field operation circuit for performing an operation by using the Galois field polynomial, and a program generating unit for generating a control program for the first and second operating units, wherein the first and second operating unit are provided in parallel with each other.. Also, there is provided an error correction decoding apparatus including a first operating unit including a Galois field polynomial operation circuit for obtaining a Galois field polynomial and a register circuit used when the Galois field polynomial operation circuit performs an operation, a second operating unit including a Galois field operation circuit for performing an operation by using the Galois field polynomial and a general-purpose operation circuit, a register unit used when the first and second operating unit perform operations, and a program generating unit for generating a control program for the first and second operating unit, wherein the first and second operating units and the register unit are provided in parallel with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an error correction decoding apparatus for correcting a code error in transmitted code data.
2. Related Background Art
Recently, the density of digital recording has increased steadily, and an error correction encoding/decoding apparatus which can operate at a high speed and has high correction performance is in demand accordingly.
A Reed-Solomon code is a kind of a BCH code and has high correction performance because it can be corrected in units of bytes. Accordingly, a Reed-Solomon code is extensively used in a variety of fields such as an optical disk and a digital VTR.
The principle of a representative decoding method for a Reed-Solomon code will be briefly described below.
A q-element Reed-Solomon code having .alpha. as a primitive element of GF(q) and 1, .alpha., .alpha..sup.2, . . . , .alpha..sup.d-2 as a root of a generator polynomial G(x) will be taken as an example. Code length n=q-1, information symbol number k=q-d, and minimum distance d.sub.min =d.
First, a syndrome Si is calculated from a received polynomial Y(x) from equation (1) below. EQU S.sub.i =Y(.alpha..sup.i)=E(.alpha..sup.i)(i=0, 1, . . . , d-2)(1)
where E(x) is a polynomial representing an error pattern.
Assume that one error occurs in a position j.sub.1, j.sub.2, . . . , j.sub.1. Note that EQU n-1.gtoreq.j.sub.1 >j.sub.2 > . . . >j.sub.1 .gtoreq.0 (2) EQU 1.ltoreq.t=.left brkt-top.(d-1)/2.right brkt-bot. (3)
where .left brkt-top.x.right brkt-bot. is a maximum integer smaller than x and t indicates the error correction performance.
If this is the case, an error pattern polynomial E(x) is represented by EQU E(x)=E.sub.1 x.sup.j1 +E.sub.2 x.sup.j2 + . . . +E.sub.1 x.sup.j1(4)
E.sub.i (i=1, . . . , 1) is the value of an error in a position j.sub.i and the element of GF(q). The syndrome S.sub.i is rewritten from equation (1) as follows. EQU S.sub.i =E.sub.1 x.sup.i.sub.1 +E.sub.2 x.sup.i.sub.2 + . . . +E.sub.1 x.sup.i.sub.1 (5) EQU for x.sub.i =.alpha..sup.ji (i=1, . . . , 1) (6)
A Reed-Solomon code is decoded by calculating the error positions j.sub.1, j.sub.2, . . . , j.sub.1 and the error values E.sub.1, E.sub.2, . . . , E.sub.1 from the syndrome S.sub.i. For this purpose, two polynomials ##EQU1## on GF(q) are calculated. These polynomials have .alpha..sup.-j1, .alpha..sup.-j2, . . . , .alpha..sup.-j1 as a root. .sigma.(z) is called an error position polynomial, and .eta.(z) is a polynomial required to calculate the error value and is called an error evaluation polynomial.
Consider the following polynomial having the syndrome as a coefficient. EQU S(z)=S.sub.d2 Z.sup.d-2 + . . . +S.sub.1 z+S.sub.0 (9)
The relationship between the syndrome polynomial, .sigma.(z), and .eta.(z) can be written as follows. EQU .sigma.(z)S(z).ident..eta.(z)mod z.sup.d-1 (10)
This is a fundamental equation from which .sigma.(z) and .eta.(z) can be calculated.
When the error correction performance t is 4 to 5, a method based on a Euclidean method of mutual division can be used as a method of efficiently calculating .sigma.(z) and .eta.(z). This method will be referred to as a Euclidean algorithm hereinafter. Equation (10) can be rewritten as follows by using an appropriate polynomial A(z). EQU A(z)z.sup.d- +.sigma.(z)S(z)=.eta.(z) (11)
Since it is assumed that the error number 1 is t or less, the following equation must hold. EQU deg.eta.(z)<deg.sigma.(z).ltoreq.t (12)
where deg is the degree of a polynomial.
As is apparent from equations (8) and (7), .sigma.(z) and .eta.(z) have no common factor. It is proved that .sigma.(z) and .eta.(z) that satisfy equation (12) can be uniquely determined. Also, it is known that such .sigma.(z) and .eta.(z) can be calculated by the Euclidean algorithm for calculating the greatest common divisor polynomial of z.sup.d- and S(z). FIG. 1 shows a general method of the Euclidean algorithm.
As a method of obtaining the root of .sigma.(z) calculated by the Euclidean algorithm, chien search is generally used. Chien search is a method by which power .alpha..sup.i (i=0, 1, . . . , n-1) of .alpha. is sequentially substituted into .sigma.(z) and whether .sigma.(.alpha..sup.i) equals 0 is checked.
Error values e.sub.1, e.sub.2 . . . , e.sub.1 can be calculated as follows. EQU e.sub.i =-.eta.(.alpha..sup.-ji)/.sigma.(.alpha..sup.-ji)'(i=1, . . . , 1)(13)
where .sigma.(z)' is a derived function of .sigma.(z) an calculated by formally differentiating .sigma.(z).
Conventionally, the individual steps of the above correction processing are generally pipelined and constituted by hardware.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the arrangement of a conventional Reed-Solomon code error correction decoding apparatus. Referring to FIG. 2, input data containing an error correction encoded error from an input terminal 600 is delayed by a processing time (to be described below) by a data delay circuit 601. At the same time, a syndrome operation circuit 602 calculates the syndrome S.sub.i in accordance with equation (1). This syndrome S.sub.i is supplied as the syndrome polynomial represented by equation (2) to a Galois field polynomial operation circuit 603.
The Galois field polynomial operation circuit 603 calculates the error position polynomial .sigma.(z) and the error value polynomial .eta.(z) by using the Euclidean algorithm shown in FIG. 1. In this Euclidean algorithm, primarily a quotient polynomial and a remainder polynomial of a Galois field polynomial are repeatedly calculated. The error position polynomial .sigma.(z) satisfying a comparison condition of degR(z)<t-1 in the Galois field polynomial operation circuit 603 is supplied to a chien search circuit 604.
The chien search circuit 604 sequentially substitutes elements of a Galois field GF(2.sup.m) and checks whether each resultant value equals 0, thereby calculating a root. The chien search circuit 604 then supplies error position information i, the error value .eta.(z), and the value .sigma.(z)' calculated by formally differentiating the error position to an error value calculation circuit 605. The error value calculation circuit 605 calculates the error value e.sub.i from the error position information i calculated by the chien search circuit 604 and equation (13).
The error position and value thus calculated are supplied to a correction circuit 606. The correction circuit 606 performs correction processing by calculating exclusive OR of the error position in the data sequence delayed by the data delay circuit 601 and the calculated error value. The correction circuit 606 outputs the result from an output terminal 607.
In the above conventional arrangement, however, although high-speed processing is accomplished by constituting all blocks by hardware, the circuit scale inevitably increases. Additionally, the hardware configuration of the control block must be changed whenever the algorithm is altered for, e.g., complicated repetitive decoding including erasure correction of product-modulated data.


A data path includes a downstream stage that strobes data at an input thereof responsive to a first control signal, an upstream stage that sends data to the input of the downstream stage responsive to a second control signal, and a control circuit operative to fix timing of the second control signal to timing of the first control signal. The data path may further include a second upstream stage that sends data to an input of the first upstream stage responsive to a third control signal having a timing with respect to the second control signal that varies responsive to a frequency at which data is transferred along the data path. A fixed delay circuit, e.g., a fixed delay circuit in a forward path of a DLL or PLL, may generate the first control signal from the second control signal.

The present invention relates to data transmission techniques, and more particularly, to data path timing in circuitry, such as integrated circuit memory devices.
Integrated circuit devices, such as high-speed memory devices, typically include data paths that include circuits, such as sense amplifiers, that strobe input data subject to an intermittently asserted signal (e.g., an enable or clock signal). Generally, valid data input must be present at the input of such a circuit within certain timing constraints relative to the strobe signal.
An exemplary data path as might be found in an integrated circuit is illustrated in FIG. 1, and exemplary operations of the data path of FIG. 1 are illustrated in FIG. 2. At a certain point during a data access cycle, a data driver enable signal DEN is activated to cause a data driver 10 to output data. This output data passes on to an output flip-flop (FF) 40 through circuitry 20, e.g., wiring, buffers, etc., that introduces delay between when the data is produced at the output of the data driver 10 and when it appears at the input of the FF 40. If the data is not in a form that the FF 40 can handle (e.g., has insufficient swing differential), a receiver 30 (e.g., a sense amplifier) may be used to convert the data format to meet the input requirements of the FF 40. The timing of a receiver enable signal REN applied to the data receiver 30 typically needs to be such that correct data is present at the input of the data receiver 30 a certain time before the receiver enable signal REN is asserted. The receiver 30 typically needs a certain amount of time to convert the data format, after which the output FF 40 can be clocked responsive to an output clock signal OCLK.
In the conventional circuit of FIG. 1, time ten between assertion of the driver enable signal DEN and the assertion of the receiver enable signal REN is typically fixed based on a starting point in a data access cycle. The minimum cycle time of the data path is generally constrained by the timing requirements of the FF 40, as time interval t′ between the receiver enable signal REN and the output clock signal OCLK generally varies as the cycle time of the data path varies.
In designing such a data path in an integrated circuit device, such as a high-speed memory device, delay attributable to data propagation and manipulation between the data driver 10 and the data receiver 30 is typically estimated using simulations. These simulations are often used to determine a minimum time ten between assertion of the driver enable signal DEN and assertion of the receiver enable signal REN that guarantees, for a given operating envelope, that valid data will be present at the input of the data receiver 30 before the receiver enable signal REN is asserted. In particular, circuit and device models are typically used to estimate data delay in the presence of process, temperature and power supply voltage variations. Such an approach can lead to an overly conservative design for a particular device.

Data paths with receiver timing fixable to a downstream stage and methods of operation thereof


In a giant magnetoresistive head, a magnetic read width is reduced and a read output is increased. The giant magnetoresistive head has a magnetoresistive film having a pinned layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a free layer, a pair of terminals for applying a current to the magnetoresistive film, and bias applying means for applying a bias magnetic field for magnetic domain control to the free layer. The free layer has a sensing region and a pair of out-of-sensing-region regions on both ends of the sensing region. The magnetization direction of one of the out-of-sensing-region regions and the magnetization direction of the other out-of-sensing-region region have different components in a direction of element height of head. The magnetization of the one out-of-sensing-region region and the magnetization of the other out-of-sensing-region region are nearly symmetrical relative to the sensing region interposed therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive element composed of a pinned layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a free layer deposited in stacked relation, to a magnetoresistive head comprising the magnetoresistive element, and to respective methods for fabricating the magnetoresistive element and the magnetoresistive head.
2. Description of the Related Art
As magnetic disk apparatus have been increased in density, a high sensitivity read head has been on growing demand. As an example of the high sensitivity read head, a structure as disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 has been known, in which two ferromagnetic layers are separated from each other by a non-magnetic metal layer and an exchange bias magnetic field is applied from an antiferromagnetic layer to one of the ferromagnetic layers to fix the magnetization thereof.
It is shown in the foregoing paper that, in such a multilayer film, a resistance R has a component which varies in proportion to cos θ as a function of an angle θ between the respective magnetizations of the two ferromagnetic layers. Such an effect is termed a giant magnetoresistive effect (GMR) or a spin valve effect and such a multilayer film is termed a magnetoresistive film.
There are cases where a sense current is caused to flow in parallel to a film surface (Current in plane, hereinafter referred to as CIP) and where the current is caused to flow perpendicularly to the film surface (Current perpendicular to the plane, hereinafter referred to as CPP) in the giant magnetoresistive head. It has been known that an MR ratio in the CPP mode is twice or more as high as the MR ratio in the CIP mode. Reports on the giant magnetoresistive head in the CPP mode are disclosed in, e.g., Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.
To obtain an excellent read voltage in these read heads, it is necessary to change the ferromagnetic layer composing the magnetoresistive film into a single domain. For this purpose, there is a magnetic domain control method termed a hard bias structure, which is disclosed in, e.g., Patent Document 3. The method suppresses Barkhausen noise resulting from a magnetic domain structure by disposing permanent magnetic films at both ends of the magnetoresistive film, applying a longitudinal bias field for magnetic domain control in a direction of track width to the magnetoresistive film, and thereby changing the ferromagnetic layer into a single domain.
As another method for changing the ferromagnetic layer into a single domain, a method for magnetic domain control termed patterned exchange is disclosed. in, e.g., Patent Document 4. The method disposes antiferromagnetic layers in left and right end regions in spaced apart relation such that they are in direct contact with the top portions of the ferromagnetic layer, thereby fixing the respective magnetizations of the both end regions of the ferromagnetic layer by exchange coupling to the antiferromagnetic layer and changing the ferromagnetic layer into a single domain. It is normally assumed that the magnetizations of the both end regions of the ferromagnetic layer are oriented in the direction of track width.
Patent Document 5 discloses a head having read sensitivity improved by tilting the magnetizations of the both end regions of the ferromagnetic layer from the direction of track width. In the head, the respective magnetizations of the left and right end portions are tilted in the same direction for improved read sensitivity.
FIG. 16 shows a conventional CIP mode giant magnetoresistive head to which magnetic domain control has been performed by patterned exchange. The head comprises a magnetoresistive film (GMR film) 30 composed of a free layer 35, a non-magnetic metal layer (Cu layer) 40, a pinned layer 45, and an antiferromagnetic layer 50 which have been stacked. The magnetization of the pinned layer 45 is fixed to the direction of element height of head. In general, an axis of easy magnetization for the free layer 35 is oriented to be parallel with the direction of track width of head.
To fabricate the CIP mode giant magnetoresistive head, a magnetic shield layer 10, a magnetic gap layer 20, and the magnetoresistive film (GMR film) 30 are deposited first on a substrate 5 in stacked relation. After an antiferromagnetic film 60 and an electrode film 70 are deposited on the magnetoresistive film 30, they are patterned. Then, a magnetic shield film 90 is formed on the electrode film 70 with a magnetic gap layer 80 interposed therebetween.
[Patent Document 1]
U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,688
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-228004
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 3-125311
[Patent Document 4]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,685
[Patent Document 5]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 8-147631
[Non-Patent Document 1]
"Giant Magnetoresistive Effect in Soft Magnetic Multilayer Film" (Physical Review B, Vol. 43, pp,1297–1300)

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.


An information processing apparatus configured to have: a display section (2) pivotally provided with respect to an apparatus main body (3) with a pair of hinges (9a, 9b) so as to pivot between a close position to close the apparatus main body and an open position to open the apparatus main body; and an operation section (18) executing a predetermined function by being operated is disposed between the pair of hinges, so that operations to the operation section are possible in the both states of the open position and the close position of the display section.

Among information processing apparatuses, such as a personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and a mobile telephone, there is a type in which a display section having a display screen is pivotally supported to an apparatus main body that performs predetermined processes and a plurality of operation buttons are disposed as operation sections on the apparatus main body (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-2561-16).
In the above-mentioned information processing apparatus, the display section is configured to be able to pivot between a close position to close the apparatus main body and an open position to open the apparatus main body.


A traction control system is for a marine vessel. The traction control system comprises a first internal combustion engine that causes rotation of a first propulsor to thereby propel the marine vessel in the water. A second internal combustion engine causes rotation of a second propulsor to thereby propel the marine vessel in water. A sensor senses a change in operation of the first internal combustion engine that is indicative of a loss of traction between the first propulsor and the water. A control circuit is programmed to temporarily slow rotation of the first propulsor when the sensor senses the change in operation of the first internal combustion engine, thereby allowing the first propulsor to regain traction with the water. When the control circuit slows rotation, the control circuit is further programmed to temporarily slow rotation of the second internal combustion engine, thereby preventing unintended movement of the marine vessel.

The following U.S. Patents provide background information regarding the present disclosure. All of these patents are incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,742 discloses a marine propulsion system having an automatic multi-speed shifting mechanism such as a transmission. An electronic controller monitors engine parameters such as engine revolution speed and load, and generates a control signal in response thereto, which is used to control shifting. Engine load is monitored by sensing engine manifold air pressure. The electronic controller has a shift parameter matrix stored within a programmable memory for comparing engine speed and engine load data to generate the control signal. The system can also have a manual override switch to override shifting of the shifting mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,853 discloses a docking system which utilizes the marine propulsion unit of a marine vessel, under the control of an engine control unit that receives command signals from a joystick or push button device, to respond to a maneuver command from the marine operator. The docking system does not require additional propulsion devices other than those normally used to operate the marine vessel under normal conditions. The docking or maneuvering system uses two marine propulsion units to respond to an operator's command signal and allows the operator to select forward or reverse commands in combination with clockwise or counterclockwise rotational commands either in combination with each other or alone.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,771 discloses a control system for a marine vessel that incorporates a marine propulsion system that can be attached to a marine vessel and connected in signal communication with a serial communication bus and a controller. A plurality of input devices and output devices are also connected in signal communication with the communication bus and a bus access manager, such as a CAN network, is connected in signal communication with the controller to regulate the incorporation of additional devices to the plurality of devices in signal communication with the bus whereby the controller is connected in signal communication with each of the plurality of devices on the communication bus. The input and output devices can each transmit messages to the serial communication bus for receipt by other devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,354 discloses a multi-purpose control mechanism that allows the operator of a marine vessel to use the mechanism as both a standard throttle and gear selection device and, alternatively, as a multi-axes joystick command device. The control mechanism comprises a base portion and a lever that is movable relative to the base portion along with a distal member that is attached to the lever for rotation about a central axis of the lever. A primary control signal is provided by the multipurpose control mechanism when the marine vessel is operated in a first mode in which the control signal provides information relating to engine speed and gear selection. The mechanism can also operate in a second or docking mode and provide first, second and third secondary control signals relating to desired maneuvers of the marine vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,131,385 discloses a method for controlling the movement of a marine vessel that comprises steps that rotate two marine propulsion devices about their respective axes in order to increase the hydrodynamic resistance of the marine propulsion devices as they move through the water with the marine vessel. This increased resistance exerts a braking thrust on the marine vessel. Various techniques and procedures can be used to determine the absolute magnitudes of the angular magnitudes by which the marine propulsion devices are rotated.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,267,068 discloses a marine vessel that is maneuvered by independently rotating first and second marine propulsion devices about their respective steering axes in response to commands received from a manually operable control device, such as a joystick. The marine propulsion devices are aligned with their thrust vectors intersecting at a point on a centerline of the marine vessel and, when no rotational movement is commanded, at the center of gravity of the marine vessel. Internal combustion engines are provided to drive the marine propulsion devices. The steering axes of the two marine propulsion devices are generally vertical and parallel to each other. The two steering axes extend through a bottom surface of the hull of the marine vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,928 discloses a vessel positioning system that maneuvers a marine vessel in such a way that the vessel maintains its global position and heading in accordance with a desired position and heading selected by the operator of the marine vessel. When used in conjunction with a joystick, the operator of the marine vessel can place the system in a station-keeping enabled mode and the system then maintains the desired position obtained upon the initial change in the joystick from an active mode to an inactive mode. In this way, the operator can selectively maneuver the marine vessel manually and, when the joystick is released, the vessel will maintain the position in which it was at the instant the operator stopped maneuvering it with the joystick.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,595 discloses a method for controlling the movement of a marine vessel that rotates one of a pair of marine propulsion devices and controls the thrust magnitudes of two marine propulsion devices. A joystick is provided to allow the operator of the marine vessel to select port-starboard, forward-reverse, and rotational direction commands that are interpreted by a controller which then changes the angular position of at least one of a pair of marine propulsion devices relative to its steering axis.

Traction control systems and methods for marine vessels


A motor vehicle control system including a differential for connecting vehicle wheels so as to permit differential actions of the wheels, a differential control device for controlling the differential, and a wheel rotation control device for controlling the rotation of the wheels, wherein the differential control device has an operator-controlled member whose output indicates a vehicle operator's desire, a vehicle condition detector for detecting the vehicle condition, a differential actuator for operating the differential so as to control the differential actions of the wheels, and a differential controller for controlling the actuator based on the outputs of the operator-controlled member and the vehicle condition detector, the system having a differential state detector whose output indicates the operating state of the differential, and a wheel rotation control determining device operated on the basis of the outputs of the operator-controlled member, differential state detector and vehicle condition detedtor, for determining whether a normal operation of the rotation control device should be permitted or inhibited.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a motor vehicle control system including a differential control device for controlling the operating state of a differential gear associated with a plurality of wheels of the vehicle, and a wheel rotation control device for controlling the rotating state of the wheels. More particularly, the invention is concerned with techniques for correct determination as to whether an operation of the wheel rotation control device should be permitted or inhibited, depending upon the operating state of the differential gear or differential control device.
Discussion of the Related Art
JP-A-6-297975 disclosed an example of such motor vehicle control system including both a differential control device and a wheel rotation control device.
Generally, the differential control device includes (a) a differential actuator for operating a differential connected to a plurality of wheels of the vehicle, and (b) a differential controller for controlling the differential actuator to operate the differential for thereby controlling the differential actions of the wheels.
The differential control device may be adapted to selectively place the differential in one of a LOCK state in which the differential actions of the wheels are substantially inhibited, and a FREE state in which the differential actions are substantially permitted. The differential control device may include operator-controlled input means which is operated to select the FREE or LOCK state of the differential, so that the differential control device operates to selectively place the differential in the FREE or LOCK state.
On the other hand, the wheel rotation control device generally includes (a) slip detecting means for detecting an amount relating to slipping of the wheels, (b) an actuator (e.g., hydraulic pressure control device electrically operated to regulate braking pressure applied to each wheel) for controlling the rotating state of the wheel, and (c) a controller for controlling the actuator to control the rotating state of the wheel, according to an output of the slip detecting means.
The above-identified publication JP-A-6-297975 shows an example of the wheel rotation control device in the form of an anti-lock brake pressure control device, which is adapted to control a braking torque of the wheel so as to prevent locking of the wheel during brake application to the vehicle. For example, the braking torque may be controlled by regulating the hydraulic braking pressure to be applied to the wheel. Other examples of the wheel rotation control device include a traction control device and a yaw moment control device. The traction control device is arranged to control a driving torque of each drive wheel of the vehicle so as to prevent spinning or slipping of the drive wheels. For instance, the driving torque of the drive wheel may be controlled by controlling the operating speed of a vehicle engine or by regulating the hydraulic braking pressure to be applied to the drive wheel. The yaw moment control device is adapted to brake right and left wheels of the vehicle such that the braking forces acting on the right and left wheels are made different from each other to thereby control a yaw moment of the vehicle for stabilizing the attitude of the running vehicle.
On some motor vehicles, brake application is effected while the differential actions between front and rear wheels are substantially restricted or inhibited. In this case, the rotating states of the front wheels and those of the rear wheels may not be controlled independently of each other, whereby the wheel rotation control device may fail to correctly control the rotating states of both of the front and rear wheels. Where brake application is effected while the differential actions between right and left wheels are substantially restricted or inhibited, the rotating states of the right and left wheels may not be controlled independently of each other, whereby the wheel rotation control device may fail to correctly control the rotating states of both of the right and left wheels. However, there is a strong need for correct control of the rotating states of the right and left rear wheels by the wheel rotation control device, during brake application on an uneven friction-coefficient road surface whose right and left areas have different friction coefficient values, particularly where the brake application is effected while not only the differential actions between the front and rear wheels but also the differential actions between the right and left wheels are substantially inhibited. In this respect, it is noted that the right and left rear wheels generally contribute to improved running stability of the vehicle during brake application to a greater extent than the front wheels.
In the light of the above drawback, the above-identified publication proposes techniques for preventing abnormal operation of the anti-lock brake pressure control device in the case where the differential control device and the anti-lock brake pressure control device are concurrently operated for the front and rear wheels, more particularly, techniques for reducing a target value of the amount of restriction of the differential actions of the front and rear wheels by the differential control device in the above case, so that the anti-lock brake pressure control device is operated in the normal manner while the differential is placed in a state in which the differential actions of the front and rear wheels are permitted to a greater extent in the above case. The same publication also discloses techniques for totally or partially disabling the anti-lock brake pressure control device in the case where the amount of restriction of the differential actions cannot be reduced due to some defect in the differential control device.
The present inventor developed a differential control device of the type described below. This differential control device includes the differential actuator and controller discussed above, and further includes operator-controlled input means and vehicle condition detecting means, so that the controller receives an output signal of the input means indicating the vehicle operator's desire to place the differential in the LOCK state, and an output signal of the vehicle condition detecting means indicative of the running condition of the vehicle. The controller is adapted to automatically inhibit the differential from being placed in the LOCK state even when the operator-controlled input means has been operated to place the differential in the LOCK state, if the vehicle is in a predetermined running condition. In this respect, it is noted that the stability of turning of the vehicle at a relatively high speed is lowered when the differential is placed in the LOCK state. In this sense, it is desirable that the operation of the differential to establish the LOCK state be effected only when the vehicle running speed is relatively low. The controller may be arranged to automatically inhibit the differential from being placed in the LOCK state if the vehicle operator has operated the input means to establish the LOCK state during running of the vehicle at a relatively high speed. This arrangement assures improved turning stability of the vehicle at a high speed without the differential being placed in the LOCK state.
Thus, the differential control device developed by the present inventor does not always assure coincidence between the operating state of the differential desired by the operator and the actually established operating state of the differential. Namely, under the predetermined vehicle running condition, the differential control device ignores the operator's intention (i.e., intention to establish the LOCK state) as represented by the output signal of the operator-controlled input means. In the vehicle control system including the wheel rotation control device as well as the differential control device developed by the present inventor, an operation of the wheel rotation control device may be undesirably inhibited even with the differential actually kept in the FREE state, if the operating state of the differential is determined on the basis of the output signal of the operator-controlled input means. However, the wheel rotation control device should be operated if the differential remains in the FREE state because the operator-controlled input means is operated under the predetermined running condition.
In view of the above fact in the vehicle control system including the differential control device and the wheel rotation control device, it is desirable to actually detect the currently established operating state (LOCK or FREE state) of the differential, and effect the determination as to whether the operation of the wheel rotation control device should be permitted or inhibited, depending upon the detected operating state of the differential, so that the wheel rotation control device is operated as long as the differential is placed in the FREE state, irrespective of the operator's intention as represented by the output signal of the input means.
The operating state of the differential as represented by the operator-controlled input means and the actually established operating state do not coincide with each other, in some other instances, for example, in a transient state of the differential, more specifically, during a time period between the moment at which the differential control device receives the output signal of the input means indicative of the operator's intention to establish the LOCK state of the differential, and the moment at which the differential has been actually brought to the LOCK state. The differential cannot be brought to the LOCK state immediately after the generation of the output signal of the input means, and remains in the FREE state for some time even in the presence of the output signal. The detection of the FREE state in this transient state indicates that the differential will be brought to the LOCK state in some time, and therefore the operation of the wheel rotation control device is desirably permitted since the operation of this device is not desirable when the differential is subsequently placed in the LOCK state.
There will be explained in detail one of the reasons why it is desirable to determine that the operation of the wheel rotation control device should be inhibited, when the transient state of the differential is detected.
The vehicle control system may be arranged as described below, for example. That is, the differential control device is designed to place the differential in the LOCK state in response to the output signal of the operator-controlled input means indicative of the operator's intention to establish the LOCK state. On the other hand, the wheel rotation control device is designed to be inhibited from operating when the differential is placed in the LOCK state. Further, the differential control device includes (a) differential detecting means for determining whether the differential is placed in the LOCK state or not, (b) determining means for determining that the operation of the wheel rotation control device should be inhibited, if the differential is placed in the LOCK state, and (c) indicator means for providing an indication that the operation of the wheel rotation control device is inhibited, if the determining means determines that the operation of the wheel rotation control device should be inhibited.
In the vehicle control system designed as described above, the indicator means informs the vehicle operator that the operation of the wheel rotation control device is inhibited, in quick response to the output signal of the operator-controlled input means, if the differential has been brought to the LOCK state in quick response to the output signal. However, the differential may be held in the transient state some time after the generation of the output signal of the input means. In this case, the indicator means does not provide an indication that the operation of the wheel rotation control device is inhibited, in quick response to the operator's operation of the input means, whereby the operator waits for the completion of an operation of the differential control device to place the differential in the LOCK state. That is, the indication that the operation of the wheel rotation control device is inhibited is delayed with respect to the moment at which the input means is operated. However, it is desirable to design the vehicle control device such that the indicator means informs the operator of the disabling of the wheel rotation control device, in quick response to the output signal of the input means, irrespective of whether the differential is actually in the transient state or not.
For the above reason, it is desirable to determine that the operation of the wheel rotation control device should be inhibited, upon detection of the transient state of the differential.
To detect the transient state of the differential with high accuracy, it is required to not only detect the currently established operating state of the differential, but also obtain the subsequent operating state of the differential (currently desired operating state of the differential which will be established).

Vehicle control system having differential control device and wheel rotation control device controlled in relation to each other


The present invention provides a process for compensating for error in the position of characters in a character string that can result from printing text data intended for a printer having one resolution on a printer having equivalent fonts, but a different resolution. The method comprises the steps of determining the conversion error for a character in a string of characters, accumulating the conversion error, determining whether the accumulated conversion error equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold value, positioning the next character in the string from the present character by the amount of the predetermined threshold value and decrementing the accumulated conversion error, provided the accumulated conversion error equaled or exceeded the predetermined threshold value, and repeating the above steps for the next character in the character string. The invention further includes the additional steps of examining character strings occupying the same baseline for instances in which a relative move of one character string abuts a relative move or a space character of another character string, and in such instances replacing the relative move and the abutting relative move or space with an equivalent relative move.

This invention relates to electronic printers and printing systems, and more particularly, to a method of correcting for errors in positioning of one or more characters resulting from printing text data intended for a printer having one resolution on a printer having equivalent fonts, but a different resolution.
At present, electronic printers such as laser printers have certain standard resolutions, such as 240, 300 and 600 spots per inch (spi). To print text, electronic printers include libraries of fonts, stored in memory, that each have typefaces of various sizes for each character desired. Typically, an electronic printer prints one or more pages of text in response to data received from a host computer over a communications channel. The page data is formatted in a standard print language, such as IBM EBCDIC, that positions text on a page by grouping the text as strings of characters having the same typeface. For each character to be printed, the printer will access its font memory to retrieve a typeface of the appropriate character, size and font type, described as a bitmap or as a series of commands in a page description language. The bitmap describes, pel by pel, the image of the typeface the printer should print to represent the particular character required by the data. Similarly, the page description language has the similar effect of constructing an image of the typeface at the pel level. In both cases, the typeface is described in a manner that corresponds to the particular resolution of the printer.
It is desirable to be able to print text page data, intended for a printer having one resolution on a printer having a different resolution. More particular, it is desired that the text page data cause the first resolution and second resolution printers to print pages that are "light test compatible." Short of light test compatibility, a high standard, pages of text printed on the second resolution printer are generally acceptable if certain readily visible features are the same as on pages of text printed on the first resolution printer. In particular, any text alignment present on first resolution pages, such as right justification of text lines, should also be present on second resolution pages.
At present, efforts at light test compatibility have been directed towards converting fonts from the first resolution to the second resolution. Font designers have been most successful in converting fonts where one resolution is an integer multiple of the other resolution. For example, 300 spi fonts are readily converted to 600 spi fonts. More problematic is converting fonts where one resolution is not an integer multiple of the other resolution. For example, converting a 240 spi font to a 300 spi font involves increasing the width and height of the 240 spi font by a factor of 5/4. To match a 240 spi type having a width of 61 pels, a 300 spi type would need to be 76.25 pels wide. Most electronic printers, however, cannot print fractional pels. Accordingly, the approximating 300 spi type would need to be either 76 pels or 77 pels wide, 1/1200 of an inch too narrow and 3/1200 of an inch too wide, respectively. Either choice would contribute to failing the light test. Moreover, in a string of characters the effect of fractional pel conversion errors would be cumulative, leading to noticeable misalignment of lines of text. Accordingly, when printing text from page data originally intended for a first resolution printer on a second resolution printer having converted resolution fonts, there is a particular need for a method for correcting errors in the position of characters caused by resolution conversion error.

Method for compensating for font resolution conversion error


Through a first local area network, a first computing device of an information processing system receives an information packet from a global computer network. In response to at least the information packet and a state of the information processing system, the first computing device selectively outputs the information packet when the state of the information processing system is a first state, such that the output information packet bypasses the first local area network. When the state of the information processing system is a second state, the first computing device selectively executes a software application associated with the information packet.

This description relates in general to information processing systems, and in particular to a server farm information processing system and method of operation.
A software application can be deployed through a global computer network, such as an Internet Protocol ("IP") global computer network (e.g. the Internet or an intranet). Such applications include IP socket-based software applications (e.g. web site application or Internet gaming site application). For deploying an application through a global computer network, a client computer system ("client") communicates with at least one server computer system ("server) through the global computer network.
Accordingly, the server stores and executes the deployed application, which is used by the client through the global computer network. In such a manner, one or more applications can be deployed by the server through the global computer network. If the application (or group of applications) is large, or is used by a large number of clients, then a group of servers ("server farm") stores and executes the application.
A conventional server farm is coupled through a flow switch to the global computer network (and, accordingly, to clients that are coupled to the global computer network). Through the flow switch, a client and the server farm communicate packets of information ("information packets") to one another. As a conduit between clients and the server farm, the flow switch has various shortcomings which reduce the overall performance and efficiency of deploying software applications with the server farm through the global computer network.
FIG. 1a is a block diagram of a conventional system for processing information with a client computer system ("client") and server computer system ("server") that communicate (e.g. receive and output information) with one another through an Internet Protocol ("IP") global computer network (e.g. the Internet or an intranet). For clarity, FIG. 1a shows only a single client and a single server, although multiple clients and multiple servers are connected to the IP network. In FIG. 1a, the client is a representative one of the multiple clients, and the server is a representative one of the multiple servers.
Conventionally, clients and servers communicate with one another through the IP network according to either the Transmission Control Protocol ("TCP") or User Datagram Protocol ("UDP"). In FIG. 1a, a server makes its socket application (or "socket-based application") available through the IP network and waits for a client to establish a connection with the server through a specified IP address and TCP port (e.g. through a listening socket). For example, a server executing a World Wide Web application has a listening socket associated with an assigned 32-bit IP address on the standard TCP port 80 for a World Wide Web server application.
After accepting a connection from a requesting client, the server creates (or "establishes" or "forms") a client specific socket. The socket (created by the server) represents the server's connection for the sending (and receiving) information to (and from) the specific client. Conventionally, in response to creation of a socket, the server (with its operating system ("OS") kernel) allocates (or "establishes" or "forms") a data structure (of the connection with the client) to store client-to-server protocol specific connection information. This data structure is referred to as a socket connection endpoint (or "connection endpoint").
Information within the connection endpoint varies according to the type of connection established (e.g. TCP or UDP). For UDP and TCP types of connections, the connection endpoint information includes the client's and server's respective 32-bit IP addresses, the client application's and server application's respective 16-bit TCP connection ports, a pointer reference to a socket structure, and IP options such as Time to Live ("TTL") and Type of Service ("TOS"). Additionally, for a TCP type of connection, the connection endpoint information includes a group of send and receive sequence numbers (including start, current, and acknowledgement sequence numbers of the server and client) and variables for timing individual sent packets. In various embodiments, the connection endpoint information includes additional suitable information.
The client performs similar operations. With a socket layer (which manages sockets), the client (with a client application) creates a connection endpoint of a specified type (e.g. UDP or TCP) and attempts a connection to a server's listening socket. For example, with a conventional web browser (e.g. Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer), the client opens a TCP type of connection endpoint and attempts connection through an IP network to a web server through the web server's advertised IP address on the standard web service TCP port 80. After establishing a successful connection, the client and server are operable to send (and receive) information to (and from) one another through the associated socket connection.
With read and write calls to the socket layer, the client and server are operable to send and receive information at the application level. The client and server communicate with one another through IP packets sent through the IP network. Accordingly, before sending information from an application through the IP network (in response to a suitable connection endpoint), the computer system (e.g. client or server) encapsulates such information according to the IP protocol. Also, in response to receiving information from a network interface, the computer system (in response to a suitable connection endpoint) directs such information to an associated application.
As shown in FIG. 1a, the client and server have respective protocol stacks, which process IP packets (sent and received) and manage connection endpoint information. With the protocol stack, the computer system (a) adds transport specific information before sending information to the network interface and (b) removes transport specific information before alerting an application of the receipt of information from the network interface. Conventionally, the protocol stack is part of the OS and executes in kernel mode.
The protocol stack includes a series of routines (e.g. software instructions) to process a packet in accordance with one or more network protocols such as HTTP, Ethernet, IP, TCP or UDP. In response to receiving a packet from the IP network, the network interface sends the packet through its associated device driver to the protocol stack's routines. For example, in response to receiving an IP packet, the computer system (with its protocol stack) verifies the IP packet according to the packet's checksum algorithm and then moves the packet up the protocol stack for additional processing in accordance with a network protocol.
At each level of the protocol stack processing, the computer system reads, processes and removes a header from the packet. At the end of protocol stack processing, the final result is information that the computer system stores in a destination socket queue. In response to information in the destination socket queue, the computer system (with its OS) initiates a software interrupt to the destination application, alerting the destination application that such information has been received.
For sending information through the network interface to the IP network, the computer system (with the socket application) outputs such information (which has been formed according to software instructions of the socket application) to the protocol stack along with a reference to a suitable connection endpoint. Then, the computer system (with the connection endpoint) moves the information down the protocol stack for additional processing in accordance with a network protocol. At various levels of the protocol stack processing, the computer system forms a packet by supplementing the information with TCP or UDP header information, IP header information, link layer header information (e.g. Ethernet), and calculation of packet checksums. After forming the packet, the computer system outputs the packet to a device driver output queue of the network interface.
Description of Conventional Flow Switch Architecture
FIG. 1b is a block diagram of a conventional system for processing information with a group of servers ("server farm") and a client that communicate with one another through a global computer network with IP socket-based applications. In this example, a server farm (including n servers, where n is an integer number) stores the applications to be deployed. Server farms are useful for deploying software applications (e.g. web site application or Internet gaming site application) for use through a global computer network.
As shown in FIG. 1b, each of the n servers is connected to a flow switch at egress ports of the flow switch. At an ingress port of the flow switch, it is coupled through a router to the IP network.
In the example of FIG. 1b, a client connects to a server's application by connecting to the entire server farm through a single IP address. The IP address is associated with the ingress port of the flow switch. Typically, the client obtains the IP address by sending a Uniform Resource Locator ("URL") to a Domain Name System ("DNS"). DNS is a set of special servers deployed on the IP network, with responsibility for translating a URL into an associated IP address. Alternatively, if a client has already received the IP address, the client is able to connect to the server farm without relying on the DNS.
All communications between a server (of the server farm) and a client are directed through the flow switch. The flow switch helps to balance client request loads on servers within the server farm ("server farm load-balancing") by selecting a server to handle a particular client's connection. Accordingly, the flow switch (a) maps packets from the flow switch's ingress port to the selected server through a suitable one of the flow switch's egress ports, (b) maps packets from the selected server to the particular client, and (c) performs various administrative operations. In processing a packet that is communicated between a server and a client, the conventional flow switch performs a range of operations, which may include network address translation ("NAT"), checksum calculation, and TCP sequence number rewriting ("TCP splicing").
Accordingly, a need has arisen for a server farm information processing system and method of operation, in which overall performance and efficiency are enhanced of deploying software applications with a server farm through a global computer network.

Method and system for communicating an information packet through multiple networks


A computer-assisted shingle sawing method for recovery optimization using a 0-1 defect relative to the clear line, comprising the steps of taking an image of a next slab to be cut from a wood block; defining from that image, a clear line there-across; and locations of defect on that slab relative to the clear line, determining edge lines of shingles recoverable from the slab according to optimal shingle grade recovery; sawing the next slab along these edge lines, and sawing the next slab from the wood block, thereby releasing an optimum recovery of shingles from the slab. In another aspect there is provided a method for shingle recovery optimization using an optimization by inversion strategy, wherein the inclination of a parting line for cutting the next slab from the wood block is determined for optimal shingle grade recovery. There is also provided an installation for carrying out these methods.

The shingle sawing profession is perhaps the most demanding one in the field of forest industries. A shingle sawyer must be capable of picking up a cedar slab laid against a large vertical rotating saw without looking, and trim both sides of this slab on a nearby table saw. The trimming is done by trimming a first edge, flipping the slab over and trimming the other edge. The trimming is done while watching the main saw; periodically readjusting the cedar block on the main saw's carriage, and releasing the carriage's back and forth motion for sawing another slab, and repeating the motion.
The trimming on the table saw is done to produce the best available width for a top quality grade of shingles, or a best available width for a second or third grade of shingles depending on the market demand at that time. A shingle sawyer must pay attention to his work at all times. A shingle sawyer cannot let his mind wander away for a second as most people do when doing monotonous job. Therefore, the rumor is true; you can recognized a long-time shingle sawyer by counting his/her remaining fingers.
It becomes more and more difficult to find workers who want to enter the profession. New generation sawyers are not as productive as their elders. Five years ago, a good shingle sawyer was producing on average 22-23 squares of shingles per eight hour shift. A square of shingles is 100 square feet. Today, a good shingle sawyer produces on average 15-16 squares per eight hour shift. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for robotic or computer-assisted machinery to fulfill the void left by the unavailability of workers in this field.
There are, however, major difficulties to overcome in the sawing of shingles by computer-assisted machines. The grade selection standard for wood shingle requires visual acuity, a subjective interpretation of dozens of quality criteria, and a keen decision-making ability that is difficult to match by a computer. It will be appreciated that the grade-selection standards for wood shingles has not been written for interpretation by a computer. For example, some of a grade selection criteria for one grade of wood shingle are listed below.
CAN/CSA 0118.2-94 (0118.2M-94) Eastern White Cedar
Shingles.
EXTRA-Grade A:
Grading: This grade has a clear face which allows the following characteristics:
Grain: Diagonal grain is accepted when the grain diverges or slants 1 inch or less in 4 inches of length measured from the butt.
Sapwood: Accepted above the clear line, 8″ (203 mm) from the butt.
Decay: Not accepted, including the butt and the exposed edges.
Pin Knots: They refer to ingrown knots of 1/16″ (1.5 mm); are accepted above the clear line, 8″ (203 mm) from the butt.
Edges: Shingles widening at the tip are not accepted. They must possess parallel sides, within ¼″ (6 mm).
Length: Length shall not exceed ¼″ (6 mm) less than nominal length, except a minus tolerance of 1 inch below nominal length is permitted in fifteen (15%) of the running inches in the bundle, from 15″ to 15¾″ (380 to 400 mm). Feather tips shall be permitted.Shingle thickness: At time of manufacturing, shingles should be reasonably uniform in thickness. The approximative thickness of a 16″ (406 mm) shingle must follow the 5/2 rule, i.e. the thickness of the butts of 5 shingles must measure about 2″ (50 mm) plus or minus 5%.Width: The minimum width is 3″ (76 mm), with not more than 20% of the running inches (running millimetres) of the bundle consisting of shingles of 3½ in (89 mm) and less.Torn grain: Accepted on 10% of the running inches (max. 1/16″/1.5 mm long).Waves: Accepted on 10% of the running inches, when judged "abnormally visible".Shingles that have any slight deviation from the Grade A criteria are classified in other classifications:CLEAR—Grade B:SECOND CLEAR—Grade C;CLEAR WHITE—Brown Label, orUTILITY (cull)—Grade D.
These secondary grades accept some relaxations to the Grade A criteria, with added tolerable defects related to check and ring shake; wane; inclination of grain; soundness of knots; inter-grown knots; black knots; encased knots; loose knots; unsound knots; holes; bark; streaks of resin; decay; and in the relative location of knots, holes, resin, bark or decay to the clear line of the shingle.
It will be appreciated that a major portion of these criteria are determined subjectively. These criteria are not related to 1 and 0 defect determinations, as it is done by a computer. A good shingle sawyer normally does an apprenticeship as a bundle maker for a thousand hours or more to develop skills in learning shingle quality criteria. After this first apprenticeship, the sawyer works under a close supervision of a senior sawyer for another thousand hours or more. Only then, an apprentice can become an accomplished shingle sawyer.
For all these reasons, basically, past attempts to manufacture wood shingle using robotic machinery and machine vision have enjoyed a limited success. There remains, more than ever, a need in the industry to address computer-assisted shingle sawing.
For reference purposes, conventional shingle sawing is done on machines that are substantially similar to the one illustrated in: U.S. Pat. No. 2,136,622 issued to M. W. Koski on Nov. 15, 1938. A block of wood is placed by hand between a pair of spur rolls. The spur rolls are mounted on a carriage that carries the wood block against a main saw, to cut one shingle at every pass. The spur rolls index the block so that a thick end of the shingle is taken sequentially from the top of the block, and then from the bottom on the block. The machine illustrated in this document is special in that a pair of trimming saws are provided to cut the shingle at an exact length and to cut the top and bottom ends of the shingle parallel with each other. This trimming is done as the block moves into the main saw.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,113,098 issued to J. L. Longfellow on February 14, 098. This document describes a machine vision system to determine optimal saw cut to maximize the value of shingles. Wood slabs are exposed to a camera, and a computer determines where the defects are. The shingle is then processed through an edger to trim it to remove any undesired defect.
It will be appreciated that a defect in a shingle does not necessary means that the shingle should be classified as cull. It does not always means that the defect should be removed. Experience sawyers consider all defect criteria at a glance such as defect soundness, dimensions, relative location, and decide where to trim a slab to recover the best shingle value from it.
Therefore, it is believed that there is a need in the shingle industry for a computerize system and a machine that can match the skills of, or at least obtain a same recovery as, an experienced sawyer.

Computer-assisted shingle sawing method and installation

CLAIR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD.


Presented in an apparatus for controlling a brushless DC motor with a permanent magnet arranged on a rotor and a stator with windings. The apparatus includes an observer that is adapted to determine an estimated temperature of the permanent magnet as a function of the temperature of the windings, and determine at least one actuating signal for controlling the DC motor as a function of the estimated temperature of the permanent magnet.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling a brushless DC motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Brushless DC motors (BLDC motors) are machines with permanent magnets in the rotor. The rotor produces the excitation field. The stator of the BLDC motor has a three-phase winding and is fed by an inverter, which makes available three-phase current. BLDC motors are self-commutated machines and require a rotation angle position encoder for operation. The armature current forms, together with the field of the permanent magnet, a torque which is as constant as possible over time. The reconnection of the stator field takes place with the aid of the inverter as a function of the rotor position so that a constant angle of π/2 electrical is set between the stator rotating magnetomotive force and the rotor field. The rotor position is preferably detected via sensors or derived from terminal voltages and/or terminal currents. The operational response largely corresponds to that of the DC motor. BLDC motors have very good dynamics and can be controlled easily. The brushless technology is free from wear and maintenance.
BLDC motors are used in particular for power-assisted steering systems in motor vehicles. Power-assisted steering systems are devices for increasing the steering force which are designed to increase a steering force applied by the driver of the motor vehicle. The force is increased electromechanically by means of the BLDC motor. The power-assisted steering system preferably comprises a torque sensor, which detects the present torque transmitted by the driver onto the steering wheel. The torque is then increased, it being possible for the gain factor to be dependent on various operational variables of the motor vehicle. Then, the BLDC motor is controlled in a corresponding manner. The BLDC motor is preferably coupled to the steering device of the motor vehicle by means of a transmission. Irregularities in the torque which is emitted by the BLDC motor are perceived by the driver as jolts on the steering wheel. A regularity of the torque is therefore essential for a high degree of driving comfort. Such irregularities of the torque are also referred to as torque ripple.
DE 199 38 678 A1 has disclosed a method and an apparatus for controlling a BLDC motor which is operated with block commutation of the voltage. The DC motor is controlled in such a way that the voltage applied deviates from the voltages provided for the block commutation as a function of the rotation speed of the motor and its current consumption. For this purpose, a table is provided from which altered pulse widths when switching over the windings of the DC motor as a function of the rotation speed N and current values are read and controlled in a corresponding manner.
DE 101 26 470 A1 has disclosed a method for operating a steering device with a device for increasing the steering force. The device for increasing the steering force is an electrically commutated electric motor, to be precise a BLDC motor. The BLDC motor is operated using current control. A voltage to be produced is determined as a function of a desired current, a desired rotation speed and a temperature of the electric motor.

Method and device for controlling a brushless direct-current motor


A catalyst component for olefin polymerization is disclosed, which comprises a reaction product of the following components: (1) a spheric carrier; (2) a titanium compound; and optionally, (3) an electron donor, wherein the spheric carrier comprises a reaction product of at least the following components: (a) a magnesium halide represented by a general formula of MgX2-nRn, wherein X is independently chloride or bromide, R is a C1-C14 alkyl, a C6-C14 aryl, a C1-C14 alkoxy, or a C6-C14 aryloxy, and n is 0 or 1; (b) an alcohol compound; and (c) an epoxy compound represented by a general formula (I), wherein R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, a C1-C5 linear or branched alkyl, or a C1-C5 linear or branched haloalkyl. When the catalyst of the invention is used in olefin polymerization, in particular in propylene polymerization, at least one of the following desired effects can be achieved: high polymerization activity of catalyst, high stereospecificity of catalyst, good hydrogen response of catalyst, high stereoregularity of polymer having high melt index, and low content of polymer fines.

Catalyst components comprising a titanium compound and an electron donor compound supported on an active magnesium halide carrier are well known in the art. A usual active magnesium halide carrier is an adduct of a magnesium halide and an alcohol, generally in the form of spheric particles. Spheric catalysts are obtained by reacting the magnesium halide-alcohol adduct carrier with a titanium compound, such as a titanium halide, and an electron donor compound. When used in olefin polymerization, in particular in propylene polymerization, such catalysts exhibit high polymerization activities and high stereospecificities, and the resulting polymers have good particle morphology.
The disclosed magnesium halide-alcohol adduct carriers comprise generally only magnesium dichloride and an alcohol. Some of the disclosed magnesium halide-alcohol adduct carriers further comprise a minor amount of water. Such magnesium halide-alcohol adduct carriers may be prepared by known processes, such as spray drying process, spray cooling process, high-pressure extruding process, or high speed stirring process. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,674, U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,648, WO 08707620, WO 9311166, U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,849, U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,279, U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,054, EP0395083, U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,304, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,152.
Besides the above-mentioned magnesium halide-alcohol binary adduct carriers, the prior art also discloses other forms of active magnesium halide carriers. For example, CN1922212A discloses a carrier obtained by reacting a solution of a magnesium halide in a cyclic ether and an alcohol with a titanium halide. CN101190953A discloses a magnesium-containing adduct carrier formed by reacting a C1-C5 alcohol with powdery magnesium in the presence of a methyl halide. CN1590415A discloses a complex carrier prepared by reacting a C2-C4 lower alcohol with powdery magnesium in the presence of a methyl halide to form a homogeneous magnesium compound solution and supporting the formed magnesium compound on a spheric silica carrier. CN1016422B, U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,361, U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,655, U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,591 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,648 disclose active magnesium dichloride carriers prepared by using an alkoxy magnesium as a starting material.

Catalyst component for olefin polymerization and catalyst comprising the same

Beijing Research Inst. of Chemical Industry, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation


Methods and compositions for selectively reactivating genes on the inactive X chromosome (Xi) in a locus-specific manner, e.g., genes associated with X-linked diseases, e.g., Rett Syndrome, Factor VIII or IX deficiency, Fragile X Syndrome, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and PNH, in heterozygous females.

X chromosome inactivation (XCI) achieves dosage balance in mammals by repressing one of two X chromosomes in females. X-linked diseases occur in females when a defective gene is present on the active X chromosome (Xa). In some cases, a normal, wild type copy of the gene is present on the inactive X chromosome (Xi), and the severity of the disease may depend on the prevalence (skewing) of inactivation of the X chromosome carrying the wild type gene. Reactivating the entire Xi is undesirable as cancers could arise as a result of X-chromosome gene overdosing (Yildirim et al., 2013, Cell 152: 727-742). Locus-specific reactivation of the non-disease silent allele on the Xi would be therapeutic in many cases of X-linked disease, such as Rett Syndrome.

Selective reactivation of genes on the inactive X chromosome