Methods and apparatus are provided for read retry operations with read reference voltages ranked for different page populations of a memory. One method comprises obtaining a plurality of rankings of a plurality of read reference voltages for a plurality of page populations, wherein the rankings are based on a predefined performance metric; and reading a codeword from the memory a plurality of times, wherein each of the read operations uses a different one of the plurality of read reference voltages selected based on the rankings of the plurality of read reference voltages. The performance metric comprises, for example, a bit error rate, a bit polarity disparity, a substantially minimal syndrome weight and/or measures of an average system latency or a tail latency. The ranking is optionally based on a size of the page populations that had each of the ranked read reference voltages. Channel estimation is performed separately for each of the plurality of page populations.

Solid state storage devices use analog memory cells to store data. Each memory cell stores a storage value, such as an electrical voltage. The storage value represents the information stored in the memory cell. Many solid state storage devices distinguish between different binary values that a memory cell may store based on a read voltage level of the memory cell. The range of possible storage values for each memory cell is typically divided into threshold regions, with each region separated by a read threshold voltage and corresponding to one or more data bit values. Ideally, all of the memory cells in a given solid state storage device have identical read threshold voltages for the logical bit values stored. In practice, however, the read threshold voltages differ across the cells in probability distributions along the read threshold voltage axis (e.g., "read threshold voltage distributions") that are similar to a Gaussian distribution.
In addition, solid state storage devices can shift over time. For example, memory cell leakage, memory cell damage and other disturbances to memory cells can alter the read voltage levels of the memory cells. Thus, the read threshold voltages can shift over time. The rate of leakage and other disturbances can also increase with age as memory cells are used over time. If the read voltage level of a memory cell shifts past a read threshold voltage, a data error occurs, as the value of the data read from the memory cell is different than the value of the data that was written to the memory cell.
Data is read from a non-volatile memory in blocks referred to herein as a "read unit" or as a "codeword" that is typically protected from error by included error correction, such as included parity bits generated using an error correction algorithm, such as low density parity check (LDPC) encoding. Bits are read from non-volatile memory cells and the resulting data is decoded to apply the error correction algorithm, for example, in an LDPC decoder. If the data fails to converge in the LDPC decoder, a read retry operation can be used to re-read the data and to again apply the error correction algorithm. Although cell voltage is continuous, non-volatile memory cells generally provide only binary hard decisions after a read operation. When soft iterative decoding algorithms, such as LDPC decoding algorithms, are used for error correction, it is desirable to convert the hard decisions generated by the non-volatile memory into soft decisions that give the decoder more information to help correct errors. The soft decisions converted from a single read may not be of sufficient quality for successful decoding. In this case, multiple reads with varying read voltages can be used to obtain sufficient quality of the soft decisions. Thus, the location and frequency of the read reference voltages can directly affect the quality of the soft decision and eventually, the theoretic information content of the channel reads.
A need remains for improved techniques for performing read retry operations.

Read retry operations with read reference voltages ranked for different page populations of a memory


The data for being processed are transmitted by utilizing a daisy chain constitution using a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuit devices each having an input terminal for receiving an input signal containing any one of an instruction, a data, a position where the data exists or a timing signal, and an output terminal for producing a signal formed in an internal circuit in response to the input signal or fed through the input terminal, wherein among the plurality of semiconductor integrated circuit devices, the output terminal of the semiconductor integrated circuit device in the preceding stage and the corresponding input terminal of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the next stage are connected together.

A communication system between a memory controller and a memory employs chiefly a plurality of transmission lines (buses) and, usually, employs a shared bus system which enables three or more units to carry out the communication using physically the same transmission line. The shared bus features a large quantity of data transmitted and received per a unit time since a plurality of data are communicated in one cycle. Besides, only one bus may be used irrespective of the number of units, which makes it easy to vary the quantity of memory and to add (extend) the memory depending upon the system. As the shared bus, there can be exemplified JEDEC Standard 79, Double Data Rate (DDR) SDRAM Specification (document 1).
The scaling of the metal oxide film semiconductor transistor (MOS: metal oxide semiconductor) has contributed to strikingly increasing the processing ability of an integrated circuit (IC) and, particularly, of a central processing unit (CPU). In recent years, however, there remains a problem in that the processing ability of the computer system as a whole is not improved despite of an increase in the processing ability of the CPU. One of the causes may be that the speed of the main memory is slowing down relative to the processing ability of the CPU.
In particular, the interface between the memory controller and the memory employs the shared bus as described above accompanied by a problem of deviation (skew) in the timing among the data lines as the communication speed increases. Further, a number of units existing on the same line are accompanied by such problems as a difference in the timing among the units, a change in the transmission conditions depending upon the units and reflection of signals at points to where the units are connected. In the interface among the memories in high-speed memory controllers, therefore, it becomes necessary to use expensive registered DIMMs (dual inline memory modules) imposing imitation on the number of the memories that are connected, arousing problems such as an occurrence of error if all memory slots are used.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of transmitting data at high speeds, a data processing system and a memory system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of transmitting data at high speeds despite of its simple constitution, a data processing system and a memory system.
The above and other objects of the present invention as well as novel features of the present invention will become obvious from the description of the specification of the application and the accompanying drawings.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device, data processing system and memory system


A service platform for transport within an area wherein an explosive device is present. A remotely controlled tractor provides the primary motive force for moving the service platform through the explosion-prone area. Because of the danger personnel might experience in entering such an area, the tractor is remotely controlled by a transmitter manned by a person at a remote location. In situations where the explosive device comprises one or more mines hidden in the earth, the mobile support of the tractor will distribute the weight of the tractor over a sufficiently large ground surface area such that mines embedded in the ground will not have their firing circuitry triggered by passage of the tractor above the mine. However, the service platform is equipped with rugged, massive, ground contacting elements which are sufficiently light so as to not trigger the firing mechanism of anti-tank mines, but sufficiently massive to cause the firing of anti-personnel mines. The device is intended for use on pedestrian trails through forests and mountains and will find use in clearing mines from farm lands to be cultivated.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to remotely controlled, moving platforms. In particular, the invention relates to a remotely controlled, transport platform for use as an aid in transporting equipment and devices of bomb disposal squads for purposes of rendering explosives harmless.
2. Prior Background Art
Military and police bomb disposal squads make use of robotic manipulating devices, cameras and disposal equipment. Transport platforms for such devices are currently limited to travel on hard surfaces. A transport platform, highly maneuverable in all terrain situations, having a low center of gravity, would prove useful to bomb disposal squads. Satisfying the need for such a device is one of the intended uses for which the invention was derived.
Wars come and go as do the opposing armies and fighting factions. Yet, when wars and fighters are gone, death and destruction and the potential for further death and destruction remain on the pathways and the fields once trod by the opposing forces.
The reason death and destruction continue to lurk and to strike long after hostilities have ceased stems from the propensity of armed forces to seed explosive mines in the ground in places most likely to result in their being triggered by either pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Pathways through forests and wooded areas, open and cultivated fields; pathways through mountains from village to village, become the sites of sudden death and dismemberment. Population movement becomes stagnant. People are afraid to travel from one village to another. Whole populations are subjected to starving because the fields where they would normally grow their food now consume lives, or cripple those who enter.
There is little incentive for investment in programs aimed at removing mines in regions formerly subjected to hostilities. Mine detection devices are expensive. The work of mine removal is dangerous. Many mines, having plastic and wooden cases, are undetectable by conventional mine sensing equipment.
It is further intended that the instant invention be employed to move a mine exploding mechanism through areas containing anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. It is also intended that the mechanism transported by the invention will explode anti-personnel mines and leave the heavier, more difficult to trip, anti-tank mines to be weeded out by more conventional methods.


A gaming device and method having a game with multiple player selectable award opportunities. In one embodiment, the gaming device displays a plurality of groups to a player. Each of the groups include related award opportunities. An indicator simultaneously indicates at least two of the award opportunities in one of the groups. In an alternative embodiment, components of an award opportunity are accumulated in an accumulated award opportunity. The accumulated award opportunity is indicated along with at least one other award opportunity. The player chooses one of the indicated award opportunities and receives the outcome which results from the indicated award opportunity picked by the player. In one embodiment, the average expected values of the outcomes which result from the indicated award opportunities in each group are approximately equal.

The present invention relates to the gaming device having a bonus event and specifically, to a bonus event with multiple player selectable award opportunities.
Gaming device manufacturers strive to make gaming devices that provide as much enjoyment and excitement as possible. Providing a secondary or bonus game in which a player has an opportunity to win potentially large awards or credits in addition to the awards associated with the primary or base game of the gaming device is one known method for enhancing player enjoyment and excitement.
Gaming devices having bonus games generally employ a triggering event that occurs during the operation of the base game of the gaming device. The triggering event temporary stalls or halts the base game play and enables a player to enter a second, different game, which is the secondary or bonus game. The player plays the bonus game, likely receives an award, and returns to the base game.
Bonus games exist that display multiple selections or options to a player. The player picks one of the options to obtain an award in the bonus game. Thus, the player's award depends on which option the player selects in the bonus game. One such bonus game is included in the "Jazzy Jackpots™" gaming device manufactured by Atronic Americas, LLC. In this game, the gaming device displays five reels to a player. Each reel includes several symbols including a coin symbol having a sun pattern on one side of the coin symbol. When three or more coin symbols occur in any position on the reels, the coin symbols begin to flip or turn. If three or more coin symbols display the sun pattern when the coin symbols stop flipping, the gaming device initiates the Jazzy Jackpots™ bonus game or secondary game. In the bonus game, the gaming device displays two predetermined options to the player. One option includes a video of a wheel, which the player spins to obtain free spins of the reels in the primary game and a multiplier. The other option is a video of an antique slot machine having a set of three reels where the player spins the reels to obtain credits. The player is provided with five free spins of the reels. The player spins the reels to obtain credits, which are multiplied by a multiplier based on the player's wager. The player chooses one of these two games to obtain an award in the bonus game. Thus, the player receives either free spins or credits depending on the particular game selected by the player in the bonus game.
Gaming devices that increase the opportunities to obtain awards and increase the size of the awards are desirable. Additionally, gaming devices that enable players to choose between different award selections or options increases the player's excitement and enjoyment of the game. Players are attracted to games that provide additional awards and different options to the player. Therefore, to increase player enjoyment and excitement, it is desirable to provide new games for gaming devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Gaming device having a bonus game with multiple player selectable award opportunities


A convertible vehicle has a roof that is movable between a closed position extending over the passenger compartment and an opened position stowed in a rearward storage region. A movable cover has a closed position wherein the cover covers the rearward storage area and is movable to a first opened position to provide a passage opening for the roof and to a second opened position to provide a loading opening for baggage. A cover extension has an extended position wherein the cover extension at least partially covers an opening between the movable cover and the passenger.

In order to stow a roof under a movable shelf or cover, it is known to provide an extension for the cover. The cover extension covers and visually terminates the space between the front edge of the cover and the passenger compartment when the roof is open.
DE 199 43 860 B4 shows a cover element that can be moved upwardly in two directions and a plate-like extension is held under the cover and can be pivoted forwardly to extend the cover forwardly to be flush when the roof is open. The assembled cover assembly has a very large longitudinal extension, which can be problematic with specific vehicle geometries. The width of the extension must be adapted to the width of the cover for a pleasing appearance with such a design.

Convertible with a roof which can be stored below a covering


An electronic device includes a charging socket, a protection circuit, and a battery. The charging socket includes a charging pin. The charging pin is detachably connected to a charging plug of a power supply device, receives power from the power supply device, and transmits the power to the battery. The protection circuit is connected between the battery and the charging socket, and controls whether the battery is electrically connected to the charging pin. During a process of disconnecting the charging socket from the charging plug, the protection circuit disconnects the battery from the charging pin before the charging pin is disconnected from the charging plug.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device using the protection circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices, such as smart phones, typically have a charging socket to charge the device. The charging socket is connected to a charging plug of a charger, and power from a power source is transmitted to the electronic device via the charger. The charging socket includes a charging pin and a ground pin. The charging pin and the ground pin may be short-circuited when the charging plug is disconnected from the charging socket. Once the charging pin and the ground pin are short-circuited, a battery of the electronic device, the charging pin and the ground pin cooperatively form a closed circuit. As a result, the battery outputs a higher short circuit current to ground via the charging pin and the ground pin, instantaneously pulling down the power supplied to the electronic device from the battery. Accordingly, a working performance of the electronic device can become unstable.
Therefore, what is needed is an electronic device that can overcome the described limitations.

Electronic device and protection circuit thereof

Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.


A semiconductor device comprising a resistance element with a high resistance and high resistance accuracy and a non-volatile semiconductor storage element is rationally realized by comprising the non-volatile semiconductor storage element comprising a first isolation formed to isolate a first semiconductor area, a first insulator, and a first electrode in a self-aligned manner, and a second electrode, and the resistance element comprising a second isolation formed to isolate a second semiconductor area, a third insulator and a conductor layer in a self-aligned manner, and third and fourth electrodes formed on each end of the conductor layer via a fourth insulator, and connected with the conductor layer. The conductor layer or the third and fourth electrodes include the same material with the first or second electrode, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor device comprising a non-volatile semiconductor storage element and a resistance element.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) which is a non-volatile semiconductor storage device has a memory cell having an metal insulator semiconductor field effect transistor (MISFET) structure in which a charge storage layer (a floating gate electrode) and a control gate electrode are laminated above a semiconductor substrate. This memory cell stores data in a non-volatile manner by using a difference in threshold voltage of FET between states in which electronic charge is injected into the charge storage layer and the electronic charge is extracted therefrom. Injection/extraction of the electronic charge is controlled by tunneling current which passes through a tunnel insulator provided between the charge storage layer and a channel being formed in the substrate. Among various types of EEPROMs, a so-called NAND type EEPROM is advantageous to higher integration since the number of select transistors can be reduced as compared with an NOR type EEPROM. The NAND type EEPROM connects a plurality of memory cells in series to constitute an NAND cell unit.
In the NOR type flash memory, data is also erased by flowing tunneling current through the tunnel insulator between the charge storage layer and the channel in the substrate so that the erase operation can be hardly affected by a short channel effect. For example, a plurality of memory cells is simultaneously erased data so that the number of memory cells being erased data in a given time is increased. Therefore, electrons are extracted from the charge storage layer to the substrate by applying a high voltage, which is not smaller than 10V, e.g., a positive voltage of 20V, to a well formed in the semiconductor substrate where the memory cells are formed. On the other hand, when writing data, a well voltage is maintained at 0V, and a positive voltage, which is not smaller than 10V, is applied to a source/drain of the memory cell having a smaller charging/discharging capacitance than that of the well. Since the charging/discharging capacitance of the memory cell is smaller than that of the well, an electric power which charges/discharges the well can be reduced, thereby increasing an operating speed.
In order to allow such an operation, in the NAND-connected memory cells, variation in threshold voltage of non-selected memory cells connected to selected memory cells in series must be sufficiently lowered, and variations in current in a reading operation of the selected memory cells must be reduced. Thus, the positive voltage must be controlled within a variation of 0.5V or less in order to maintain a distribution of the threshold voltage after writing to be narrow and reduce variations in threshold voltage among chips.
Further, in a conventional non-volatile semiconductor storage device, an erase operation, a write operation and a read operation of the non-volatile memory cells are switched by using a signal supplied externally. Therefore, there are required a logical peripheral circuit to change a voltage applied to a well, where memory cells are formed, from the external input and a logical peripheral circuit to output data read from memory cells to the outside. Each of these circuits is constituted of a CMOS circuit in order to reduce power consumption, and uses a voltage of not greater than 5V, e.g., 3.3V or 1.8V as an input/output voltage from/to the outside. This voltage is greatly lower than the voltage of 10V or above required in the write operation or the erase operation.
Thus, in order to perform a feedback control over the positive voltage by the logical peripheral circuit, there is employed, e.g., a method of converting a voltage of 10V or higher into a lower voltage by resistance division. In this case, in a resistance element used for resistance division, a higher resistance is preferable since it can reduce a current flowing through the resistance element and thus reduce a consumed power.
Conventionally, the resistance element is formed by a method, for example, disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-110825. A polycrystal silicon which serves as a floating gate electrode is deposited on an entire surface of a semiconductor substrate via a tunnel insulator and then processed by lithography and etching, thereby forming a trench for isolation in the polysilicon and substrate. Then, a thick isolation insulator is deposited to form an isolation. Subsequently, polycrystal silicon which serves as a control gate electrode is deposited on an entire surface and processed by lithography and etching, thereby the control gate electrode and the resistance element are formed from the same material. As to this lithography, since a processing dimension is relatively loose, an less expensive lithography having a lower resolution and lower accuracy can be used. However, when such lithography is used, there occurs a problem that a line width of a stripe-shaped area of the polycrystal silicon, which serves as the resistance element, cannot be finely formed and a variation in the width becomes large. As a result, when obtaining a high resistance, there occurs a problem such as an increased chip size due to increase in the stripe-shaped polycrystal silicon area being formed the high resistance element. Furthermore, if the variation in the width is large, then a relative resistance variation becomes large, thus a larger margin in timing must be required if the resistance element is used in a timing generation circuit of a circuitry.
In another example, as disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-85617, there is a technique by which a gate electrode of MOSFET and a resistance element are formed of the same material. In this technique, an isolation is first formed in a semiconductor substrate. Then polycrystal silicon to which a gate electrode is being formed is deposited on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate via a gate insulator and processed by lithography and etching to form the resistance element and the gate electrode from the same material, simultaneously.
In each of the above-described conventional techniques, an additional lithography to form the resistance element different from the lithography for the isolation is required, thus the number of the lithography steps is increased, which leads to an increase in a manufacturing process cost.
Therefore, there is a need for rationally realizing a semiconductor device comprising a resistance element with a high resistance and high resistance accuracy and a non-volatile semiconductor storage element even if design rule is shrunk.

Semiconductor device with a non-volatile memory and resistor


In a method of making a load-bearing article by spray casting a molten metal onto a metal substrate, the substrate surface receiving the spray cast deposit is treated by vacuum cleaning, boronizing and/or knurling to enhance the structural integrity of the diffusion bond joint subsequently formed between the spray cast deposit and the substrate in sustaining a load across the joint without premature joint failure.

Compressor and turbine rotors (or wheels) as well as centrifugal impellers used in gas turbine engines represent load-bearing components which would have an equiaxed fine grain microstructure in the hub-to-rim regions for optimum low cycle fatigue resistance at service temperature and an equiaxed cast grain, directionally solidified columnar grain or single crystal grain structure in the blades for optimum high temperature stress rupture strength at service temperature.
Although integrally cast bladed turbine rotors have been successfully used for years in many small gas turbine applications, the prior art has recognized that the conventional investment cast rotor inherently compromises the ideal microstructure described above. Namely, the relatively massive hub section of the casting exhibits a coarse, columnar grain structure due to its slower solidification and cooling after casting, while the rim section exhibits a finer, columnar grain structure. As a result of their thin section, the integrally cast blades exhibit a generally equiaxed, finer grain structure. The significance of such a compromise in the microstructure of the turbine rotor becomes apparent when it is recognized that the mechanical properties of the casting are a function of the number and orientation of the grains in the particular region of interest. For example, coarser grain structures are known to offer better elevated temperature stress rupture properties than a fine grain structure. However, the latter grain structure offers better low cycle fatigue properties. Moreover, the low cycle fatigue properties within a cast component depend on the crystallographic orientation of grains relative to the local distribution of stress(es). An unfavorably oriented coarse, columnar grain in a conventionally cast component can contribute to premature fatigue failure of the component.
An improved investment casting process, known as the Grainex.RTM. investment casting process, was developed to enhance the uniformity of the microstructure of integrally cast bladed rotors (specifically integral turbine wheels) to meet new challenges of component performance and reliability demanded by increased thrust and horsepower applications. The Grainex process includes motion of the mold during solidification of the melt and also, a post-casting HIP (hot isostatic pressing) treatment. This process develops a substantially uniform fine, equiaxed grain structure through the hub, web and rim regions of the casting. This microstructure provides a significant improvement in the low cycle fatigue properties in these sections of the cast turbine wheel while providing stress rupture properties in the blades similar to those obtainable in conventionally investment cast bladed rotors.
Another improved investment casting process, known as the MX.RTM. investment casting process, was also developed to enhance the uniformity of the microstructure of castings. The MX process involves filling a properly heated mold with molten metal having little superheat (e.g., within 20.degree. F. of its measured melting temperature) and then solidifying the molten metal in the mold at a rate to form a casting having a substantially equiaxed cellular, non-dendritic microstructure uniformly throughout with attendant improvement in the mechanical properties of the casting.
Integrally bladed rotors have also been fabricated by machining processes which utilize either ingot or consolidated metal powder starting stock. The powder metal rotors are generally consolidated by hot isostatic processing (HIP) and demonstrate reduced alloy segregation compared to ingot metallurgy. Powder metal rotors are, however, susceptible to thermally induced porosity (TIP) from residual argon used in powder atomization. Any oxygen contamination of powders can form an oxide network resulting in metallographically detectable prior particle boundaries which are known sites of fracture initiation. These limitations make manufacture of rotors by machining of ingot or consolidated metal powder costly in terms of both processing and quality controls.
Advanced powder metal manufacturing and consolidating techniques coupled with advanced forging processes have provided the capability to produce fine grain rotors which exhibit improved low cycle fatigue properties as compared to conventional investment cast rotors. However, the forged rotors typically exhibit inferior stress rupture properties compared to conventional investment cast rotors.
Unfortunately, in general, metallurgical processing to maximize low cycle fatigue properties of a metal results in reduced creep (stress rupture) properties. As a result, in more demanding service applications where increased thrust and horsepower are required (e.g., in military aircraft), designers have often resorted to the traditional separately bladed/mechanical attachment approach that involves fabricating a fine-grained, forged disk; machining slots in the disk to accept machined blade roots; and inserting cast blades of the desired grain structure (e.g., directionally oriented or single crystal) into the slots. However, machining slots and blade roots are costly processing steps. This method also limits the number of blades that can be attached, especially in smaller engines. A design with a large number of blades often is desirable for higher performance.
Those skilled in the art of turbine engine design have recognized the potential advantages of combining the ease of fabrication and the structural integrity of monolithic integrally cast/forged rotors with the high performance capability obtainable in separately bladed turbine engine rotors. Several approaches have been developed to produce such a turbine rotor. One such approach is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,615 wherein an equiaxed blade ring is cast and then solid state diffusion bonded to a separately produced powder metal hub or disk in a hot isostatic pressing step. Both an interference fit and brazing are usually required to achieve complete bonding during HIP'ing. In particular, a radially inwardly facing surface of the blade ring is machined to precise diameter to form a bonding surface adapted to mate with the radially outwardly facing bonding surface of a hub or disk made of another material. The blade ring is positioned over the hub and oxygen and other contaminants are removed from the bonding surfaces by vacuum treatment, followed by sealing the external joint lines with braze material. Hot isostatic pressing is then used to diffusion bond the blade ring to the hub. This approach has the disadvantage of requiring several separate processes: (1 ) casting the blade ring; (2) precision machining the inner diameter of the blade ring; (3) powder metal HIP consolidation; (4) precision machining the outer diameter of the powder metal hub, (5) assembly of the blade ring and powder metal hub; and (6) a second HIP operation to achieve final solid state diffusion bonding. Each of these processes is expensive and may create additional costs arising from defect scrap losses.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,256 describes a somewhat similar process for making a hybrid turbine rotor wherein an expendable blade fixturing ring is used to position the blades for bonding directly to a hub in a hot isostatic pressing step. The blade fixturing ring is removed after the blades are bonded to the hub.
A similar, complex approach for manufacturing a dual-alloy integrally bladed rotor is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,452. In that approach, a blade ring is formed by diffusion bonding a plurality of single crystal elements together. The bonded blade ring is then bonded to a hub by a superplastic forming/solid state diffusion bonding step.
Another approach used in the art employs powder metal in an investment mold which has directionally solidified or single crystal cast blades positioned within it. The mold is loaded in a metal can, covered with an inert pressure-transmitting media, vacuum sealed and hot isostatically pressed. This combined blade/powder metal approach has less process steps than the interference fit approach described immediately above but is severely limited in dimensional control due to blade/mold movement during consolidation of the 65-70% dense powder.
A relatively new low pressure, high velocity plasma spray method to produce fine grain, load-bearing structural components (as opposed to protective coatings on a component) is illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,418,124 and 4,447,466. This low pressure, high velocity plasma spray method to produce structural components employs a spraying procedure described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,618. Attempts have been made to use the low pressure, high velocity plasma spray technique to fabricate dual alloy turbine wheels. In these attempts, a plasma gun in a dynamic partial vacuum (low pressure) is used to plasma spray molten metal onto a solid metal substrate in the form of an integrally bladed dish-shaped member. In particular, metal powder feedstock is injected into the plasma gun and propelled to the substrate in a carrier gas. A plasma jet deposits molten droplets of the spray cast metal on the surface of the solid substrate where the droplets solidify incrementally until the desired structural shape (e.g., a rotor hub preform) is obtained. The droplets are deposited by line-of-sight to produce simple near-net-shape configurations with a joint between the initial solid substrate (e.g., investment cast substrate) and the spray cast metal deposit. The spray cast deposit can be different in composition and/or microstructure from the initial solid substrate. After deposition of the spray cast metal, the preform is hot isostatically pressed (i.e., HIP'ed) to substantially eliminate voids primarily in the spray cast metal and diffusion bond the spray cast metal and solid substrate at the bond joint therebetween.
However, in attempts to utilize the low pressure plasma spray method to make dual alloy or dual property turbine wheels, prior art workers have found the diffusion bond joint to exhibit a lack of structural integrity as evidenced by an unexpectedly short life in elevated temperature stress rupture tests. In particular, premature planar failures (bondline fractures) solely through the bond joint have been observed in stress rupture tests where a load is applied across the joint at elevated temperature. In spite of various efforts to facilitate diffusion bonding between the spray cast metal and the metal substrate (the bladed component), the problem of inadequate bond joint structural integrity has persisted.
It is an object of the invention to overcome this problem and to so enhance the structural integrity of the diffusion bond joint formed between the spray cast metal and the solid substrate that premature bond joint failures in elevated temperature stress rupture tests (simulating intended service conditions) are reduced or substantially eliminated and result in acceptable bond joint life under both testing and service conditions.
It is another object of the invention to subject the metal substrate receiving the spray cast metal to surface treatment processes that can be used individually or in various combinations with subsequent hot isostatic compaction to enhance bond joint integrity depending upon the degree of compositional difference between the metal substrate and spray cast metal deposit bonded thereto.
It is still another object of the invention to provide such bond joint enhancement processes which overcome the many limitations/disadvantages associated with the other known methods of fabricating dual-property, diffusion bonded bladed rotors.

Method of enhancing bond joint structural integrity of spray cast article


An electronic device (110) provides equalization and/or compensation for a coupled audio accessory device (120). The audio accessory device (120) has a memory (220) that contains equalizer parameters (304, 308, 310, 314) which helps in characterizing its audio response or impact on audio signals within the electronic device (110). When the audio accessory device (120) is coupled to the electronic device (110), the electronic device (110) reads the equalizer parameters (304, 308, 310, 314) from the audio accessory's memory (220) and processes audio signals with equalization and/or compensation based at least in part on the equalizer parameters (304, 308, 310, 314).

Many electronic devices, such as those used for radio communications, support accessory connections for various functions. For example, a radio communication device may include an accessory interface that allows connection for an external audio accessory such as a microphone, an external speaker, or the like. Audio accessories come in a variety of configurations and may be available from several vendors. Generally, specifications standards established for the audio accessories govern the impact of these accessories on internal audio signal lines of the electronic device.
In many cases, audio signal processing components within the electronic device are optimized to work with a selected number of audio accessories. However, because of manufacturing variations for audio accessories, and because of the potential for unanticipated combinations of simultaneously attached audio accessories, it is difficult to design audio signal processing components which will properly accommodate all such variations and combinations. Consequently, the coupling of certain audio accessories to the electronic device may yield an audio response that is unsuitable or undesirable for other signal processing. For example, a radio may use a speech coder that depends on audio signals having a flat response. When an audio accessory is coupled which distorts the audio response, the function of the speech coder may be adversely affected.
Generally, radio designers accommodate variations in audio signal paths through filters and other signal processing components employed in the design of a circuit. The provision of these additional components can add considerable time and expense to the design process, but yet does not usually provide a total solution because of the coupling of unanticipated accessories or combinations thereof. As a result, an electronic device that was designed to perform within certain specifications for audio signal processing may not continue to meet those specifications when certain audio accessories are coupled. It is desirable to provide a more flexible solution to accommodate various accessories which may be coupled to an electronic device in order to ensure consistent performance. Hence, a new approach to the accommodation of audio accessories is needed.

Electronic device with equalized audio accessory and method for same


An airtight vessel is formed with restraining a vacuum leak and without increase in the number of steps. Provided is a method for producing an image-forming apparatus comprising the airtight vessel in which a rear plate having an electron-emitting device and a wire connected to the element, and a face plate having an electrode are joined to each other through a jointing material, the method comprising the following steps: (A) a first step of forming a first wire which is a part of the wire and which passes through the joint part to connect the inside of the vessel to the outside, by applying a paste comprising particles of an electric conductor and baking the paste; and (B) a second step of forming a second wire located in the vessel, by applying a paste comprising particles of an electric conductor so as to be connected to the first wire inside the vessel and baking the paste, after formation of the first wire.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing an image-forming apparatus while keeping the inside in a pressure-reduced state. Particularly, the invention relates to a method for producing the image-forming apparatus while wires used in the image-forming apparatus are formed by sintering particles of an electric conductor. The invention further concerns the image-forming apparatus produced using the production method.
2. Related Background Art
Cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) are popularly and generally used as the image-forming apparatus at present. Recently, the large cathode-ray tubes with the display screen over 30 inches also came on the market. In order to increase the size of the display screen in the case of the cathode-ray tubes, however, there arise problems that the depth dimension thereof must be increased according to the increase of the screen size and that the weight also becomes greater according to the increase of the screen size.
In order to meet the consumer's desires for images of strong appeal on a larger screen, the cathode-ray tubes thus require a larger placement space and thus are not always suitable for realizing the increase of the screen size.
There are thus expectations for the debut of a flat image display apparatus that is thin enough to be hung on a wall, that is of low power consumption, and that has a thin, lightweight, large screen, in place of the large and heavy cathode-ray tubes (CRTs). Research and development is active on liquid-crystal display devices (LCDs) as such flat image display apparatus.
Since the above LCDs are not of an emissive type, they require a light source called a back light. They thus had a problem that most of the power consumption was due to lighting of the back light. Further, the LCDs still have problems that the image is dark because of low utilization efficiency of light, there is a limit to viewing angles, it is difficult to realize a large screen over 20 inches, and so on.
An emissive type flat image display apparatus is thus drawing attention instead of the LCDs having the above problems. Examples of such display apparatus proposed heretofore are, for example, plasma display panels (PDPs) arranged to emit light by irradiating a fluorescent material with ultraviolet light to excite the fluorescent material, flat panel displays arranged to emit light by irradiating the fluorescent material with electrons emitted from electron-emitting devices to excite the fluorescent material, and so on.
With the displays using the electron-emitting devices, the fluorescent material is made to emit light when the fluorescent material is irradiated with electrons emitted from the devices under reduced pressure. Therefore, the light emission mechanism thereof is thus basically the same as in the case of the CRTs. This permits us to expect high-luminance displays without viewing angle dependence.
Such electron-emitting devices are generally classified into cold cathodes and thermionic cathodes. Further, the cold cathodes include field emission type electron-emitting device (hereinafter referred to as "FE"), electron-emitting device comprised of a stack of metal layer/insulating layer/metal layer (hereinafter referred to as "MIM"), surface conduction electron-emitting device, and so on.
In the image display apparatus using the above electron-emitting devices, the devices need to operate in an airtight vessel maintained, for example, under a pressure lower than 10−4 Pa.
The image display apparatus using the surface conduction electron-emitting devices among the above cold cathode is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open No. 6-342636, No. 7-181901, No. 8-034110, No. 8-045448, No. 9-277586, and so on.
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the schematic structure of an example of the surface conduction electron-emitting devices disclosed in the above applications. FIG. 7 is a diagram to show the schematic structure of an example of the image display apparatus using the surface conduction electron-emitting devices disclosed in the above applications.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the surface conduction electron-emitting device and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the surface conduction electron-emitting device. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, reference numeral 101 designates an insulating substrate, 104 an electroconductive film, 102 and 103 electrodes, and 105 an electron-emitting region. The electron-emitting region 105 has a gap. When a voltage is placed between the electrodes 102, 103, the electron-emitting region 105 emits electrons.
In FIG. 7 numeral 5005 denotes a rear plate, 5006 an outer frame, and 5007 a face plate. Joint (Sealing) portions between the outer frame 5006, the rear plate 5005, and the face plate 5007 are joined (or sealed) to each other with a bonding material such as a low-melting-point glass frit or the like not illustrated, thereby composing an airtight vessel 170 for maintaining the inside of the image display apparatus in vacuum. The surface conduction electron-emitting devices 5002 are formed in an array of N×M on the rear plate 5005 (where N and M are positive integers not less than 2 and are properly determined according to the number of display pixels aimed). A fluorescent material is opposed to the electron-emitting devices.
The electron-emitting devices 5002 are wired in a matrix by M column-directional wires 107 and N row-directional wires 106, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In the case of this wiring in the matrix, insulating layers, not illustrated, are placed for electrically insulating the two types of wires from each other, at least, at intersecting portions between the row-directional wires and the column-directional wires.
A fluorescent film 5008 comprised of the fluorescent material is formed on the lower surface of the face plate 5007. A metal back 5009 of Al or the like is formed on the rear-plate-side surface of the fluorescent film 5008.
In the case of color display, fluorescent materials (not illustrated) of the three primary colors, red (R), green (G), and blue (B), are laid separately. Further, a black material (not illustrated) is laid between the fluorescent materials of the respective colors forming the fluorescent film 5008.
The inside of the above airtight vessel is maintained in a vacuum of the pressure lower than 10−4 Pa. The distance between the rear plate 5005 with the electron-emitting devices formed thereon and the face plate 5007 with the fluorescent film formed thereon, as described above, is usually kept in the range of several hundred μm to several mm.
A method for driving the image-forming apparatus described above is as follows. A voltage is applied to each electron-emitting device 5002 via terminals Dx1 to Dxm, Dy1 to Dyn outside the vessel, and via the wires 106, 107, whereby each device 5002 emits electrons. At the same time as it, a high voltage of several hundred V to several kV is applied to the metal back 5009 via a terminal Hv outside the vessel. This accelerates the electrons emitted from each device 5002 to make them collide with the corresponding fluorescent material of each color. On this occasion the fluorescent material is excited to emit light, thus displaying an image.

Method for producing image-forming apparatus, and image-forming apparatus produced using the production method


An introducer may include a layered tubular member having an inner liner including at least one folded portion extending along a distal region of the inner liner in a delivery configuration; a reinforcing member disposed over at least a portion of the inner liner, the reinforcing member including a plurality of longitudinal spines defining a plurality of openings disposed between adjacent longitudinal spines, wherein each folded portion is circumferentially overlapped by one of the plurality of openings; and an outer sheath disposed over the reinforcing member, wherein the outer sheath includes at least one perforation circumferentially overlapping each folded portion; and a tip member fixedly attached to a tapered distal region of the layered tubular member. The inner liner may extend to a distal end of the layered tubular member. At least a portion of each folded portion may terminate proximal of the distal end of the layered tubular member.

In some instances, performing percutaneous medical procedures may require the insertion and/or maneuvering of relatively large medical devices through a patient's vasculature. However, inserting the medical device into the vasculature may result in undesirable forces being applied to the vessel walls. Therefore, it may be desirable to design an introducer having a reduced insertion profile, yet capable of expansion when necessary (e.g., during the passage of a medical device therethrough) to provide protection to the vessel wall. Of the known medical devices and methods, each has certain advantages and disadvantages. There is an ongoing need to provide alternative medical devices and introducers as well as alternative methods for manufacturing and using medical devices and introducers.


A housing contains a gate or arm to extend to the driver's side of a school bus to stop vehicular traffic at the back of the bus. The housing and the arm are located at the back of the bus by attaching it to the rear bumper of existing bus. For new buses, the housing can be built into the body of the bus on the driver's side near the rear. A stop sign, at eye level, is also extended from the driver's side of the bus. In a preferred embodiment, the sign is extended responsive to the opening of the passenger door on the school bus. As soon as the sign begins its outward movement, flashing lights are activated, a sound alarm is activated. After a short delay, the gate in the form of an arm is extended from the housing. To retrieve the arm and sign, the arm is brought in first and as soon as the arm is retracted it activates a limit switch which begins the sign retraction and when the sign is retracted a limit switch will deactivate the flashing lights and audible device.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to safety and more particularly to creating a zone of safety along the side of a stopped school bus during periods of boarding, or disembarking passengers.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A long-recognized problem exists in stopping traffic for school buses while passengers are boarding and disembarking. Normally the door for this purpose is on the right side of the bus next to the curbside while the driver sits on the left side of the bus. When the bus is stopped, often automobiles will pass to the left side of the bus, despite stop signs and other warnings.
STANTON U.S. Pat. No. 1,786,678 in 1930 disclosed an arm or gate to swing from the driver's side of the school bus to prevent this traffic. This gate was located adjacent to the driver's position near the front of the bus.
RUNKLE U.S. Pat. No. 3,153,398 in 1964 disclosed a gate which would swing directly in front of the bus along the door side of the bus. LATTA U.S. Pat. No. 1,559,518 in 1985 also disclosed a gate which swung directly ahead of the bus from the right side of the bus as did WICKER U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,541 in 1987. These gates from the door side of the bus were designed to prevent the passengers from the bus passing directly in front of the bus, where automobiles passing the bus on the driver's side could not see them as they stepped from immediately in front of the bus. All the gates of RUNKLE, LATTA and WICKER were designed to swing about a vertical axis so that the gates would sweep through a horizontal path and in the closed position would lie along the front bumper.
WICKER U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,630 in 1990 disclosed obstructing pedestrian traffic in front of a bus. Also disclosed in the LATTA and the two WICKER patents, are signs on the driver's side of the bus directing traffic to stop. These signs are distinguished from gates, inasmuch as the gates prevented traffic from passage wherein the signs only instructed traffic to stop.
WELLS U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,192 in 1989 disclosed a telescoping gate which telescoped within the front bumper to obstruct traffic from the front of the bus.


Method for thawing frozen water-containing products by heating and stirring in a horizontal mixer.

Especially biological products which can only be produced in small quantities have to be temporarily stored before further processing. This is usually carried out by means of freezing in order to maintain the quality of the product during storage. The controlled thawing of the products serves not least to even out the product properties which, particularly in the case of biological products, can vary greatly from batch to batch. To achieve a small range of fluctuation of the product properties, it is frequently necessary for several hundred to a few thousand batches to be thawed together and mixed with one another.
This is frequently carried out in vertical stirred vessels with jacket heating, because in this way no seal is touched by the product when the stirrer is operated from above. The ice pieces are taken from the storage containers and introduced into the stirred vessel. Breaking up the ice pieces is often not advisable for hygienic reasons. It is frequently also the case that no additives are required or are even permitted, so that the melting process in the stirred vessel takes place initially without a liquid phase. The ice pieces are set into rotary motion by the stirrer and slide along the heated wall of the vessel. The molten material collects the bottom of the vessel. Owing to the size of the ice pieces relative to the internal diameter of the stirred vessel (the ratio of edge length to diameter can even exceed 1/10), the installation of baffles is not advisable. There is therefore a risk of the ice pieces jamming and leading to mechanical failure of the stirrer.
For this reason and to intensify heat transfer via the wall, stirrers which travel around the wall, for example helical stirrers, are usually employed. Owing to the low friction between water ice and the wall of the vessel due to formation of a water film and the movement of the stirrer used around the wall, the ice pieces are not mixed with one another. In extreme cases, it is even possible for ice pieces which have previously been partially thawed on the external surfaces but are still deep frozen on the inside to freeze together and form a coherent mass which rotates together with the stirrer without any relative motion. The ice pieces which touch the wall melt at the wall until an air gap having a width of a few millimetres has been formed. In this mode of operation, there is hardly any formation of fresh contact areas, so that the thawing process takes longer. During this process, the thawed material is subjected to a high thermal stress for a prolonged time, which can have an undesirable effect on the product properties.
In all cases, the ice pieces float on the surface because of their lower density compared to the molten material. The previously mentioned low wall friction leads to the impetus necessary for axial transport not being able to be introduced. A division into a molten fraction in the lower region and still solid ice pieces rotating together with the stirrer in the upper region is the result. Heat exchange between these two regions is hindered by the lack of axial transport of the ice pieces, which has the consequence that the molten product is subjected to a high thermal stress over a long period of time.
It was an object of the invention to accelerate the melting process of mechanically and thermally unstable substances in aqueous solutions and to avoid mechanical and thermal stress as far as possible. Particular attention was to be paid to ensuring that local overheating due to separation of solid and liquid phases is nevertheless avoided at a low specific power input as high space-time yield by means of low stirrer speeds.
This object is achieved by a method which prevents separation of the two phases by use of a horizontal mixer in which the stirrer elements do not rotate about a vertical axis but make vertical mixing possible.

Method for melting frozen, water-containing products in a mixer


A kit for forming multiple decorative dog collars has two flexible collar end sections and at least two different, decorative, flexible collar intermediate sections. Any one of the intermediate sections can be connected to the end sections to form a decorative collar. The end sections have fasteners for connecting them together for looping around the neck of a dog.

The present invention is directed to a decorative dog collar.
Many owners of dogs desire to have decorative collars for their dogs. However, the ornamentation rapidly soils and deteriorates, losing attractiveness, even though the dog collar remains functionally satisfactory. Another problem with many decorative dog collars is that it is necessary to purchase a complete new dog collar when the color or design becomes aesthetically unattractive or out of style, or when the owner of the dog desires to change to a collar of a different aesthetic appearance.
Accordingly, there is a need for a ornamental, decorative dog collar which need not be discarded merely because it is soiled, and need not be replaced merely because the owner desires to have a color with a different appearance.


A light weight, portable platform for supporting a notebook or laptop type computer elevates the computer monitor to a user friendly height above a supporting table or desk top surface. The platform back, sides and top may be interconnected using hook and loop tape and can be readily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools or separate connecting parts that may be misplaced or lost. The platform stores flat for transport with the principal elements occupying less volume than the compact computer it supports in the assembled mode. The platform comprises a pair of side members, a back member and a top member, with the alternative that the bottom surface of the supported computer may serve as the top member of the platform.

The present invention pertains to personal computers and more particularly to a light weight, portable platform for laptop or notebook computers.
The extensive use of computers for extended time periods has revealed that monitor position is a concern with respect to operator well being. It appears that the monitor viewing surface should be at eye level for comfortable, healthful viewing during the longer periods of operation that have become common.
Laptop or notebook computers are used extensively by people that seek computer availability while traveling and at a variety of destinations. A notebook computer often becomes the computer of choice for many who find its use necessary much of the time and continue use even in a permanent office environment, both from habit and the fact that much of their user data is on that device.
The notebook computer is formed as a single unit for compactness, to enable it to be safely transported and prevent any parts from being lost, mislaid or otherwise separated from the device. The inappropriate positioning of the monitor can be tolerated as a trade off for the convenience of availability in many transient locations. However, when the notebook is used at a destination for an extended period of time or in a permanent office, the ergonomic unfriendliness of a poorly positioned monitor becomes more apparent and less acceptable. This deficiency may be overcome by a device to elevate and support the notebook at a proper level. Available apparatus for this purpose is adequate, but awkward. An elevated support must not only be structurally adequate and sufficiently rigid for use, but also must be light weight and compact for transport so that it does not materially increase the weight or bulk of the system when being transported.
The notebook computer platform of the present invention includes four panels that form the platform sides, back and top and may be packed flat for transport as a stack wherein the length and width do not exceed the footprint (length and width) of the notebook computer it will support. The four pieces form the entire structure without separate attachment devices. This may be effected by securing the parts to one another using hook and loop attachment tape adhered to the parts. The design, as described, uses hook and loop tape interfaces which, in the assembled condition, serve only to secure the platform parts to one another and do not carry the weight of the notebook computer. Alternately the sides could be permanently hinged to the back panel to allow the sides to be folded against the back in the stored condition while making the assembly a single part. The structure could be further simplified by securing self adhesive hook and loop tape to the bottom surface of the notebook computer with which the platform is used. The computer bottom wall then becomes the top of the platform.
The platform not only provides a sturdy support affording an elevated monitor location, but also stores compactly when disassembled and could be employed to provide additional protection for the notebook computer within the brief case or carrying case used for transport.

International Business Machines Corporation


A microscopy system comprises a microscopy optics and a stand supporting the microscopy optics. The stand has a plurality of hinges, of which a first group comprises a position detecting sensor for sensing a hinge position and a second group comprising an actuator for the change of the hinge position. In an automatic control mode, the actuators are controlled in dependence of signals of the position detecting sensors.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a microscopy system and in particular to a surgical microscopy system comprising a microscopy optics and a stand for carrying the microscopy optics. The invention further relates to a method of controlling a microscopy system.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
A microscopy optics generally comprises an objective lens having an optical axis and an object plane in which an object to be observed is to be disposed. The microscopy optics is configured to image a region of the object being located in a focus region of the microscopy optics.
A stand of a conventional microscopy system comprises a plurality of stand members comprising a base stand member and an objective lens supporting stand member supporting the objective lens. Pairs of stand members are connected to each other by respective such that the hinges of each pair may be displaced relative to each other. For example, the hinge members of the pair may be tilted or swiveled relative to each other. By operating the hinges, i.e. by displacing relative to each other the stand members which are connected with each other by the hinges, it is possible, on the one hand, to displace the focus region of the microscopy optics towards a desired region of the object of interest, and, on the other hand, to orientate an optical axis of the objective lens such that the desired region of the object is imaged by the microscopy optics from a desired point of view or under a desired viewing angle.
The stand of a conventional microscopy system may comprise a group of hinges allowing a user, in at least one operation mode, to substantially freely displace relative to each other the stand members connected to each other by the hinges of that group by applying a force to a component of the microscopy system. The force may be applied to a component such as a stand member or the microscopy optics or any other component provided on the microscopy optics, such as a handle bar or other. The stand members are substantially freely displaceable relative to each other in that sense that only a low force to overcome such as a remaining frictional force of the respective hinges has to be applied to achieve the desired displacement of the microscopy optics.
To this end, the members of the stand may be balanced such that a gravitational force applied to the stand members and the microscopy optics will substantially not provoke any displacement of the microscopy optics.
The hinges which are substantially free displaceable in this operation mode may be further provided with a brake in order to block an accidental displacement of the microscopy optics in another mode of operation.
The conventional microscopy system may further comprise another group of hinges including an actuator to change the relative positions of the stand members which are connected with each other by the respective hinge of this group. These actuators may be controlled by the user by, for example, a switch or the like. Controlling the actuators may result, for example, in a change of the orientation of the optical axis of the objective lens.
If the user wants to observe a region of the object being observed from a different point of view or under a different viewing angle, he will grasp the stand or a component of the microscopy optics with his hand in order to displace the objective lens to a desired new position. Due to the displacement of the objective lens, the focus region of the microscopy optics and the region of interest of the object will no longer coincide, and the user finally has to reorientate and, if necessary, also to displace the optical axis of the objective lens by controlling the respective actuators such that the region of interest of the object again coincides with the focus region of the microscopy optics. This procedure is cumbersome and results in that the user, even if the observation of the object under a different perspective appears desirable, either does not perform such observation or requires a long time for performing the necessary steps.


A snow plow lift system in kit form to modify an existing manually actuated hydraulic snow plow control mounted on a vehicle for automatically lifting a snow plow when the vehicle is placed in reverse. The system uses a solenoid to actuate the hydraulic piston which raises the plow, the solenoid being energized by a back up light on the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to plows for removing snow and more particularly to a plow lift system for modifying a snow plow control so that the snow plow control will automatically raise the plow when the vehicle on which the plow is mounted is shifted into reverse and even more particularly to a snow plow lift system in kit form for modification of an existing manually-actuated hydraulic plow control including a solenoid energized by a rear back up light to activate the valve for raising the snow plow.
2. Prior Art and Objects.
Snow plows for attachment to vehicles, usually four-wheel drive vehicles, are widely used in areas where snow plowing is required. The snow plow may be raised or lowered and turned to the left and the right to place the snow to whichever side of the vehicle is desired. Snow plow controls are of two major types, namely those in which the hydraulic values are manually actuated and those where electrical controls are used to actuate the hydraulic units.
When plowing snow with a smaller vehicle, such as a four-wheel drive pick-up truck, rather than a massive highway plow, there is a need to back up repeatedly. On occasion, in plowing snow, it is desired to pull snow with the plow rather than push the snow but pushing snow is the primary operation.
When operating in limited space, such as a yard or parking lot, frequent back and forth moves are required. Most usually, the plow must be raised each time the vehicle backs up and forgetting to raise the plow can cause damage to the surface and the plow and most certainly results in lost effort. During long periods of operation, it is easy to forget to raise the plow. A control which automatically raises the plow when the vehicle is placed in reverse is very desirable. However, since on occasion, pulling snow backward is desired, it is important to be able to disable the automatic operation.
The Iraci Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,375 pertains to a system for raising a snow plow. The system taught by Iraci pertains to an electrically actuated control. Also, Iraci lowers the plow automatically when the vehicle is returned to forward motion. In plowing this may or may not be desired and by leaving the plow raised, until specifically lowered by the operator, the system must fail safely, if at all.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automatic system to raise a snow plow when the vehicle on which the plow is mounted is placed in reverse.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a plow lift system for raising a snow plow in which in the hydraulic system is actuated manually by the operator pushing and pulling a valve in a hydraulic manifold.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an economical plow lift system in kit form for readily converting a snow plow control to raise the plow automatically when the vehicle on which the plow is mounted is placed in reverse.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof proceeds.


Systems and approaches are provided for tracking an object using multiple tracking processes. By combining multiple lightweight tracking processes, object tracking can be robust, use a limited amount of power, and enable a computing device to respond to input corresponding to the motion of the object in real time. The multiple tracking processes can be run in parallel to determine the position of the object by selecting the results of the best performing tracker under certain heuristics or combining the results of multiple tracking processes in various ways. Further, other sensor data of a computing device can be used to improve the results provided by one or more of the tracking processes.

Object tracking has several important applications for users of computing devices, such as personal computers, tablets, smartphones, or head-mounted displays and other wearable computing devices (e.g., eyeglasses, visors, gloves, watches, wristbands, etc.). For example, object tracking can be implemented for recognizing certain user gestures, such as head nods or shakes, eye winks or other ocular motion, or hand and/or finger gestures, as input for the device. Object tracking can also be utilized for advanced device security features such as ensuring "live" facial recognition, fingerprinting, retinal scanning, or identification based on gait. Devices capable of object tracking can also be configured for video editing techniques such as video stabilization (e.g., to remove jitter) or to render smooth camera motions due to panning, tilting, or dollying in/dollying out. Object tracking, however, can be challenging because of abrupt motion of the tracked object(s), changes in appearance of the tracked object(s) and background, non-rigidity of the tracked object(s), and device motion. In addition, factors such as image sensor and lens characteristics, illumination conditions, noise, and occlusion can also affect how an object is represented from image to image or frame to frame. Further, the requirements of real-time processing can often be at odds with the objective of minimizing processing and power use on portable computing devices.


A general-purpose lead bending machine for electronic components that is capable of bending leads of various types of electronic components without a need of a great variety of benders. The machine includes a lead holding device for holding the distal end of a lead of an electronic component. A first driving mechanism causes the lead holding device to move along a first axis of travel. A second driving mechanism causes the lead holding device to move along a second axis of travel perpendicularly intersecting the first axis of travel. A control device controls the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism such that the lead holding device holding the lead of the electronic component moves along an approximately circular arc-shaped locus, thereby bending the lead of the electronic component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lead bending machine for electronic components that is capable of bending leads of electronic components without straining the electronic components by causing the leads to move along a circular arc. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lead bending machine for electronic components that is capable of dealing with a great variety of electronic components varying in shape from each other.
2. Description of the Background Art
In general, bending of leads of electronic components, e.g. LSIs, is carried out by press working, and there have been cases where excessive force applied to an LSI package or gold wire for bonding may cause damage to these portions. Accordingly, the present inventor proposed an apparatus wherein the leads of electronic components are bent by causing the leads to move along a circular arc using a bender comprising a movable punch and a movable die as in Japanese Patent Application Post-Examination Publication No. 7-95576.
The conventional apparatus that uses a bender as in Japanese Patent Application Post-Examination Publication No. 7-95576 suffers from the problem that because there are a great variety of electronic components varying in the shape, length and bend dimensions of leads, it is necessary to use a special-purpose bender for each type of electronic components. Therefore, a large number of different types of benders are needed, and an increase in the cost of benders causes the working cost to increase. Moreover, the conventional apparatus has the disadvantage that it takes a great deal of time to cope with the demand for bending the leads of a new type of electronic components because the production of a bender takes a long time. In addition, during the actual working operation, it takes a great deal of time and labor to change benders according to the type of electronic components, and this causes the working efficiency to decrease.

Lead bending machine for electronic components


The present invention is related to fragments of human melanotransferrin (p97). In particular, this invention relates to treatment of diseases through the introduction of the melanotransferrin fragment conjugated to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a subject.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is related to fragments of human melanotransferrin (p97). In particular, this invention relates to treatment of diseases through the introduction of the melanotransferrin fragment conjugated to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a subject.
2. Description of the Related Art
Melanotransferrin (MTf) is a bi-lobed protein belonging to the transferrin (Tf) family of iron binding proteins. It has been demonstrated previously that MTf is able to directly bind and transport iron into mammalian cells independent of Tf and Tf receptor (TfR). Unlike other Tf family members, this molecule exists in two forms in humans, a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked cell surface form and a secreted water-soluble form. Additionally, MTf is also found to be expressed on human brain endothelium where it is hypothesized to transport iron across the blood brain barrier (BBB). The role of MTf in the transfer of iron into the brain was assessed by following both radiolabeled soluble MTf and Tf into the mouse brain during a 24-hour period (Moroo et al., 2003, Demeule et al., 2002). It was determined that soluble MTf does have the ability to transcytose across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and this transport was more efficient than that of Tf.
Subsequently, it has been demonstrated that soluble MTf could be used as a delivery vehicle of therapeutics into the brain (Karkan et al., 2008). Pharmacokinetics studies on soluble MTf demonstrated that the clearance of MTf from serum was much greater than IgG control, and was rapidly distributed to the tissues relative to IgG control. The transport of soluble MTf into the brain as a percentage of injected dose was significantly greater than IgG during the first hour post injection. The accumulation of soluble MTf in the brain was found to be significantly more than that of IgG during the first 6-hours post injection.
Furthermore, it was shown that soluble MTf is able to deliver iron across the BBB (Moroo et al., 2003), as well as paclitaxel covalently linked to MTf (Karkan et al., 2008). In the same study, while both free-adriamycin and MTf-adriamycin conjugates were able to equally inhibit the subcutaneous growth of gliomas outside of the brain, only MTf-adriamycin conjugates significantly prolonged the survival of animals bearing intracranial gliomas when compared to the free-adriamycin control (Karkan et al., 2008). Taken together, these data suggest soluble MTf as a potential drug delivery tool.
However, an even more efficient transfer molecule for delivering a target agent would be useful for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. The present invention addresses these and other needs.


In one embodiment, a disinfectant composition includes a peroxide, a peracid, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic polymer, and one or both of a linear fatty alcohol and an alkyl pyrrolidone. The disinfectants provide greater killing rates for microbial populations in short periods of time, and therefore can be considered to be fast-acting disinfectants.

Fast-acting disinfectants are important for reducing or eliminating microbial populations in a wide range of settings. In many instances, it is desirable for a disinfectant to achieve a particular microbicidal efficacy within a relatively short contact time. By way of example, a desirable disinfectant may reduce the microbial population on a surface, in a liquid, or in a substance by a desired number of logs (powers of ten) within a contact time of a minute or two, or even less.
Unfortunately, many commercially-available disinfectants are either inadequate in terms of microbicidal efficacy or require long contact times to achieve the desired level of killing. It can therefore be appreciated that it would be desirable to have more effective and/or faster acting disinfectants.

Fast-acting disinfectant compositions for reducing or eliminating microbial populations


A network element includes processing circuitry and multiple ports. The ports connect using links to a communication network. The processing circuitry is configured to receive packets via the ports and forward the received packets to respective destination addresses via the ports. The destination addresses are organized in address groups, each address group including multiple destination addresses of nodes connected to a common network element in the communication network. The processing circuitry is further configured to, in response to identifying that a given port connects to a faulty link, determine one or more address groups that became unreachable via the given port due to the faulty link, generate a notification reporting one or more of the determined address groups that are unreachable via any port other than the given port, and transmit the notification to one or more other network elements, via one or more ports other than the given port.

Communication systems may suffer from various faults that degrade performance. For example, a link failure may result in losing data, in congestion or both.
Methods for mitigating performance degradation due to a link failure are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,391,874 describes a method of re-routing traffic in a communications network in the event of a fault on a path across the network, the method comprising, determining whether a first node, located between the fault and a network ingress node, is capable of switching traffic to an alternative path, which avoids the fault, and if the first node is determined to be not so capable, then determining whether a second node, located upstream of the first node, is capable of switching traffic to an alternative path which avoids the fault.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,619,546 describes capability for coping with link failures in central control plane architectures. The capability for coping with link failures enables targeted reporting of link failures within the network in a manner that prevents flooding of link failure messages (LFMs) within the network. A method for reporting a failure of a link associated with a node includes detecting a failure of a link associated with the node, identifying an interface or the node associated with the failed link, identifying, from a flow table of the node, an ingress interface of the node via which a flow intended for the failed link is received, generating an LFM for the identified ingress interface, and sending the LFM via the identified ingress interface.
A white paper by Mellanox® Technologies, 2019, describes a solution called SHIELD™—(Self-Healing Interconnect Enhancement for Intelligent Datacenters), which takes advantage of the intelligence already built into the latest generation of InfiniBand switches. By making the fabric capable with self-healing autonomy, the speed with which communications can be corrected in the face of a link failure can be sped up by 5000×, fast enough to save communications from expensive retransmissions or absolute failure. Aspects of the SHIELD solution are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,729,473.

Efficient propagation of fault routing notifications


A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining a description of a test suite which comprises a plurality of tests, wherein each test of the test suite is described by values of functional attributes, wherein at least a portion of the functional attributes are setup-related attributes, wherein a combination of values of the setup-relates attributes potentially indicate a setup activity to be performed prior to executing the test to set up a test environment for the test. Identifying, based on the description of the test suite, a setup activity that is associated with two or more tests, wherein the setup activity is configured to set up a component of the test environment, wherein the identifying is performed by a processor. Providing a first instruction to perform the setup activity prior to executing a first test of the two or more tests. And, providing a second instruction to reuse the component of the test environment when executing additional tests of the two or more tests, whereby avoiding performing duplicate setup activities.

Omissions are a major risk in testing. Test planning techniques are a well-known way to improve the quality of testing by reducing omissions, redundancy and execution time. These techniques try to prevent omissions in advance (i.e., before tests are implemented and executed) by selecting what to test out of a possibly enormous test space, in a way that reduces as much as possible the risk of bugs escaping to the field. The selection of tests is also characterized in avoiding or reducing tests that are similar to one another and provide no added value. In some cases, three tests may have the same coverage as two tests, as the third test may overlap both two tests (e.g., a first part overlaps the first test and the rest of the test overlaps the second test).
For the purpose of testing, a model of the test space may be defined. The test space can represent inputs, scenarios, configurations, or any other aspect that one is interested in testing. The model comprises a set of functional attributes, respective domains of values for each attribute, and potentially restrictions on the value combinations. As an example, the test space may be defined by inputs formed as functional attributes and its values. This model may be used to determine the description of a test plan. The description may comprise coverage tasks, each having a value assigned to each functional attribute, and representing different setup activities to be performed prior to executing each test.
In some cases, Combinatorial Test Design (CTD) may be used to create a test plan based on a model which covers a desired coverage goal, which may be defined as a target level of interaction between the attributes. Additionally or alternatively, the test plan may be created manually, may be generated automatically using other techniques different than CTD, may be defined based on an existing test suite, or the like.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of electrodepositing nickel and nickel alloys on a metal surface of a substrate wherein a Watts or other nickel deposition electrolyte is used as the bath in the presence of a conventional base brightener. According to the invention, an ethylene-oxide adduct or propylene-oxide adduct or ethyleneoxide/propylene-oxide adduct is added in an amount less than 5 mg/l and the deposition is carried out at 40 to 75.degree. C. and the concentration of the adduct and the temperature are so selected that during operation and with visual inspection there is no cloudiness nor any diffuse scattering of light incident upon the bath.

In a prior art process over which the invention represents an improvement and as described in German patent document DE 16 21 085 A1, a Watts electrolytic bath containing the usual brighteners (basic brighteners) can be used. A Watts electrolyte can be that described in the LPW "Taschenbuch fur Galvanotechnik", Vol. 1, Verfahrenhstechnik, 13, issued 1988, (Pg. 173 to 177), i.e. Handbook for Electroplating, Process Technology. The process of the prior art for the production of glare-free coatings, utilizes substituted and/or unsubstituted ethylene-oxide adducts, propylene-oxide adducts or ethylene-oxide/propylene-oxide adducts with an adduct concentration of 5 to 100 mg/l and a temperature of the bath at 40 to 75.degree. C. The adducts, under the conditions used heretofore formed a finely dispersed emulsion which appeared as cloudiness. The droplets of the emulsion were assumed to be the basis for the glare-free surface. However, the glare-free property can be improved.
The term "glare-free" is used here to characterize a surface of a nickel deposit which provides more or less of a satin-like brightness, i.e. a relatively bright finish but one which does not produce a dazzle effect.
It has been believed heretofore that such a satin-like bright nickel deposit requires the addition to the bath of nonionic surface-active agents which tend to precipitate out at high electrolyte temperatures. In that case, they form an organic contaminant in the electrolyte in the form of an emulsion. Of course not every optionally selectable nonionic surface-active agent can be used since the cloud point, i.e. the electrolyte temperature at which the surface-active agent precipitates, depends upon the chemical structure and the concentrations of the substances in the electrolyte. In addition, the salt contribution of the electrolyte is a determinant of the level of the cloud point. In spite of the more or less fine distribution of the emulsion droplets in this system, there is a danger that the emulsion droplets may ball up to produce relatively large conglomerates which can interfere with the satin-like character of the deposit. As a consequence, it has been necessary in the past to cool the electrolyte in a correspondingly dimensioned bypass circulation so that the cloud point of the nonionic surfactant will not be approached or exceeded and the nonionic surfactants will remain dissolved in the electrolyte. In addition, the electrolyte must be heated to the requisite working temperature. The process must be carried out with considerable care and monitoring to avoid the formation of black pores. Finally, the antiglare effect and the reproducibility are normally not sufficient and reliability of the process cannot be ensured.
It is known to utilize a variety of foreign substances in the electrolyte bath (see DE 23 27 881 C2). These foreign substances can be organic compounds which can react in the electrolyte to form cation-active or amphoteric substances with organic anions. The anion supply substances can include alkylsulfates or sulfonic acids or arylsulfates or sulfonic acid in addition to alkyl or arylsulfates sulfonic acids.
To obtain a brightening effect in conjunction with the antiglare effect, the electrolyte additionally could contain known primary and/or secondary brighteners. These organic compounds provide a decoratively useful antiglare effect in the form of a matte finish for certain production periods. After a certain time interval, however, these foreign substances must be filtered out to avoid agglomeration. This is expensive. As a result of the filtering of the agglomerates and the materials which tend to agglomerate from the solution, during the next working cycle the organic foreign substances must be formed anew which is comparatively expensive.

Method of electroplating glare-free nickel deposits


There is disclosed in an example a computing apparatus for assigning an entropy score to a document to be added to a corpus in a first temporal state having a first corpus entropy, having one or more logic elements, including at least one hardware logic element, providing a classification engine to: receive the document to be added to the corpus; add the document to the corpus, creating a second temporal state of the corpus; compute a second corpus entropy for the second temporal state, based at least in part on a morphism; and assign the document a gentropy score based at least in part on a difference between the first corpus entropy and the second corpus entropy.

Machine-driven classification of objects, such as web pages, text documents, or multimedia content, is useful in contexts such as security and productivity.
Classifiers are a category of tool in the analytics arsenal that help divide input data into one or more classes. For example, email spam filter classifiers decide what incoming email is classified as "spam" and what is classified as "ham." A classifier with a binary result ("yes," the object is in the target class, or "no," the object is not in the target class) may be referred to as a binary classifier. A classifier that designates an object as belonging to one of several potential classes may be referred to as a multinominal classifier.