A method for estimating load weights for a work vehicle including a boom pivotably coupled to the chassis of the work vehicle at a boom joint and an implement pivotably coupled to the boom at an implement joint may include receiving an input indicative of a tilt force associated with a tilt cylinder configured to pivot the implement about the implement joint, and an input indicative of a lift force associated with a lift cylinder configured to pivot the boom about the boom joint. The method may further include determining a torque about the implement joint caused by the load based on the tilt force and determining a torque about the boom joint caused by the load based on the lift and tilt forces. Additionally, the method may include estimating a weight of the load based on the torques about the boom and implement joints.

Work vehicles having loader arms or booms, such as wheel loaders, skid steer loaders, and the like, are a mainstay of construction work and industry. For example, wheel loaders typically include a boom pivotably coupled to the vehicle's chassis that can be raised and lowered at the operator's command. The boom typically has an implement attached to its end, thereby allowing the implement to be moved relative to the ground as the boom is raised and lowered. For example, a bucket is often coupled to the boom, which allows the wheel loader to be used to carry supplies or particulate matter, such as gravel, sand, or dirt, around a worksite or to transfer such supplies or matter to an adjacent transport vehicle (e.g., a truck or railroad car).
When using a work vehicle to perform a material moving operation, it is often desirable to have an accurate estimate of the load weight being carried by the bucket or other implement. For instance, when transferring materials to a transport vehicle, load weight estimates may be used to determine how much material has been loaded onto the transport vehicle to ensure that its load capacity is not exceeded. In this regard, several systems have been developed that attempt to estimate the load weight being carried by within a bucket. However, to date, such systems lack the accuracy and/or reliability typically desired by operators of commercial work vehicles.
Accordingly, an improved system and method for estimating the weight of a load carried by an implement of a work vehicle would be welcomed in the technology.

System and method for estimating the weight of a load carried by an implement of a work vehicle


An extension to USB includes an insulative tongue portion and a number of contacts held in the insulative tongue portion. The contacts have four conductive contacts and two pairs of differential contacts for transferring differential signals. The four conductive contacts consist of a power contact, a ground contact, a − data contact and a + data contact. One pair of the differential contacts is located between the power contact and the − data contact and the other pair of the differential contacts is located between the power contact and the + data contact. The four conductive contacts are for USB protocol and arrangement of the four conductive contacts with the insulative tongue portion is compatible to the standard USB connector. The two pairs of differential contacts are for non-USB protocol. The extension to USB is capable of mated with a commentary standard USB connector and a commentary extension to USB, alternatively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, more particularly to electrical connectors compatible to standard Universal Serial Bus connectors.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, personal computers used a variety of techniques for providing input and output. Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard to the PC architecture with a focus on computer telephony interface, consumer and productivity applications. The design of USB is standardized by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), an industry standards body incorporating leading companies from the computer and electronics industries. USB can connect peripherals such as mouse devices, keyboards, PDAs, gamepads and joysticks, scanners, digital cameras, printers, external storage, networking components, etc. For many devices such as scanners and digital cameras, USB has become the standard connection method.
As of 2006, the USB specification is at version 2.0 (with revisions). The USB 2.0 specification was released in April 2000 and was standardized by the USB-IF at the end of 2001. Previous notable releases of the specification were 0.9, 1.0, and 1.1. Equipment conforming to any version of the standard will also work with devices designed to any previous specification (known as: backward compatibility).
USB supports three data rates: 1) A Low Speed rate of up to 1.5 Mbit/s (187.5 KB/s) that is mostly used for Human Interface Devices (HID) such as keyboards, mice, and joysticks; 2) A Full Speed rate of up to 12 Mbit/s (1.5 MB/s). Full Speed was the fastest rate before the USB 2.0 specification and many devices fall back to Full Speed. Full Speed devices divide the USB bandwidth between them in a first-come first-served basis and it is not uncommon to run out of bandwidth with several isochronous devices. All USB Hubs support Full Speed; 3) A Hi-Speed rate of up to 480 Mbit/s (60 MB/s). Though Hi-Speed devices are commonly referred to as "USB 2.0" and advertised as "up to 480 Mbit/s", not all USB 2.0 devices are Hi-Speed. Hi-speed devices typically only operate at half of the full theoretical (60 MB/s) data throughput rate. Most hi-speed USB devices typically operate at much slower speeds, often about 3 MB/s overall, sometimes up to 10-20 MB/s. A data transmission rate at 20 MB/s is sufficient for some but not all applications. However, under a circumstance transmitting an audio or video file, which is always up to hundreds MB, even to 1 or 2 GB, currently transmission rate of USB is not sufficient. As a consequence, faster serial-bus interfaces are being introduced to address different requirements. PCI Express, at 2.5 GB/s, and SATA, at 1.5 GB/s and 3.0 GB/s, are two examples of high-speed serial bus interfaces.
From an electrical standpoint, the higher data transfer rates of the non-USB protocols discussed above are highly desirable for certain applications. However, these non-USB protocols are not used as broadly as USB protocols. Many portable devices are equipped with USB connectors other than these non-USB connectors. One important reason is that these non-USB connectors contain a greater number of signal pins than an existing USB connector and are physically larger as well. For example, while the PCI Express is useful for its higher possible data rates, a 26-pin connectors and wider card-like form factor limit the use of Express Cards. For another example, SATA uses two connectors, one 7-pin connector for signals and another 15-pin connector for power. Due to its clumsiness, SATA is more useful for internal storage expansion than for external peripherals.
FIGS. 22 and 23 show existing USB connectors. In FIG. 22, this USB connector 500 is an existing USB plug, male connector. In application, the USB plug 500 may be mounted on a board in the peripherals, or may be connected to wires of a cable 57 as shown in FIG. 22. Generally, an insulative outer housing 55 always be mold over a rear end of the USB plug 500 and the cable 57 to secure the USB plug, the cable 57 and the insulative outer housing 55 together. The USB plug 500 can also be mounted in an opening in a plastic case of a peripheral, like a portable memory device. The USB plug 500 represents a type-A USB connector. The USB plug 500 includes an insulative plug tongue portion 52 formed of an insulating material, four conductive contacts 53 formed on the insulative plug tongue portion 52 and an metal shell 54 shielding the conductive contacts 53 and the insulative plug tongue portion 52. The metal shell 54 touches the insulative plug tongue portion 52 on three of the sides of the plug tongue portion 52. The conductive contacts 53 are supported on a top side of the plug tongue portion 52. A receiving cavity 56 is formed between the top side of the plug tongue portion 52 and a top of the metal shell 54, to receive a corresponding insulative receptacle tongue portion 62 shown in FIG. 23. The conductive contacts 53 carry the USB signals generated or received by a controller chip in the peripherals.
USB signals typically include power, ground, and serial differential data D+, D−. To facilitate discussion, the four conductive contacts 53 are designated with numeral 531, 532, 533 and 534 in turn. In application, the four conductive contacts 53 used to transfer power (531), D+ (532), D− (533) and ground (534) signals, respectively. The two central conductive contacts 532, 533 are used to transfer/receive data to/from the peripheral device or a host device. The four conductive contacts 53 can be formed of metal sheet in a manner being stamped out therefrom to four separated ones or formed as conductive pads on a printed circuit board (not shown) supported on the top side of the plug tongue portion 52.
FIG. 23 shows an existing USB receptacle 600, a female USB connector. The USB receptacle 600 commonly is an integral part of a host or PC. The USB receptacle 600 also presents a type-A USB connector. The USB receptacle 600 includes the insulative receptacle tongue portion 62 formed of an insulating material, four conductive contacts 63 held on the insulative receptacle tongue portion 62 and a metal shell 64 shielding the conductive contacts 63 and the insulative receptacle tongue portion 62. The conductive contacts 63 are supported on a bottom side of the insulative receptacle tongue portion 62. Same to assignment of the four conductive contacts 53 of the USB plug, assignment of the four conductive contacts 63 of the USB receptacle is contact 631 for power signal, contact 632 for D− signal, contact 633 for D+ signal and contact 634 for GND. Another receiving cavity 66 is formed between the bottom side of the insulative receptacle tongue portion 62 and a bottom of the metal shell 64. In application, the USB plug 500 in the peripheral device is inserted into the USB receptacle 600 mounted in the host or PC device. The plug tongue portion 52 is received in the receiving cavity 66 of the USB receptacle 600 and the receptacle tongue portion 62 is received in the receiving cavity 56 of the USB plug 500. After full insertion of the USB plug 500, the conductive contacts 53 of the USB plug 500 make a physical and electrical connection with the conductive contacts 63 of the USB receptacle 600 to transmit/receive signal to/from the host device to the peripheral device.
As discussed above, the existing USB connectors have a small size but low transmission rate, while other non-USB connectors (PCI Express, SATA, et al) have a high transmission rate but large size. Neither of them is desirable to implement modem high-speed, miniaturized electronic devices and peripherals. To provide a kind of connector with a small size and a high transmission rate for portability and high data transmitting efficiency is much desirable. Such kind electrical connectors are disclosed in an U.S. Pat. No. 7,021,971 (hereinafter 971 patent) issued on Apr. 4, 2006. Detailed description about these connectors is made below.
From the FIGS. 4A-6H and detailed description of 971 patent, we can find that the invention material of 971 patent is to extend the length of the plug and receptacle tongue portions of the existing USB connectors and to extend depth of the receiving cavity of the existing USB connectors, thereby to accommodate additional contacts in extended areas as shown in FIGS. 4A-5H of 971 patent; or to provide the additional contacts on a reverse-side of the plug tongue portion and accordingly with regard to receptacle, to provide a lower tongue portion under a top receptacle tongue portion thereby four USB contacts are hold on the top tongue portion and additional contacts are accommodated on the lower tongue portion of the receptacle. With contrast with existing USB A type receptacle, the receptacle with top and lower tongue portion is higher in height than existing USB receptacle.
As shown in FIGS. 4C, 4D, 5C, 5D and 6C, 6D of the 971 patent, number of the additional contacts is eight. The eight additional contacts plus the four USB contacts are used collectively or in-collectively for PCI-Express, SATA or IEEE 1394 protocol as required. To make the extended-USB plug and receptacle capable of transmitting PCI-Express or SATA or IEEE 1394 signals is the main object of the 971 patent. To achieve this object, at least eight contacts need to be added. Adding eight contacts in existing USB connector is not easy. May be, only embodiments shown in 971 patent is viable options to added so many contacts. As fully discussed above, the receptacle equipped with two tongue portions or plug and receptacle both with a longer length are also clumsiness. That is not very perfect from a portable and small size standpoint.

Extension/expansion to universal serial bus connector


Prothrombin time reagents are provided which comprise novel liposome compositions in which tissue factor is associated with an inserted into the phospholipid bilayer of the liposomes. Methods for their preparation are also provided. The liposome compositions may be adjusted to allow maximum coagulant activity and sensitivity to extrinsic coagulation factors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a prothrombin time (PT) reagent using purified, reconstituted natural or recombinant human tissue factor (rTF). More particularly, the invention relates to the reconstitution of tissue factor (TF) into phospholipid vesicles or micelles to produce a tissue factor-based PT reagent. Such a reagent allows specific monitoring of oral anticoagulant therapy and deficiencies in the extrinsic pathway of coagulation.
2. Description of Related Art and Introduction to the Invention
In general, liposomes are a general category of vesicle which comprise one or more lipid bilayers surrounding an aqueous space. Within this category are unilamellar vesicles composed of a single membrane or lipid bilayer, and multilamellar vesicles composed of many concentric membranes (or lipid bilayers). Liposomes are commonly prepared from phospholipids. Szoka, F. and Papahadjopoulos, D., Ann. Rev. Biophys. Bioeng., 9:467-508 (1980). Micelles are different from liposomes. Micelles form when molecules possessing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, such as detergents, are put into aqueous media. The hydrophobic portions of the molecules aggregate to avoid the aqueous media. In their simplest state, micelles may be spherical; however, they may form aggregates (bilayers) of various shapes and sizes. Micelles differ from liposomes in having a hydrophobic interior rather than an aqueous interior. For example, the hydrophilic heads of the detergent molecules comprising the micelle face outward into the water while the hydrophobic tails join company with other like hydrophobic structures. Davis, B. D. and Dulbecco, R. "Sterilization and Disinfection." Microbiology, 3rd Edition, p 1270, Harper & Row (Davis, B. D., et al., 1980); Mahler, H. R. and Cordes, E. H., Biological Chemistry, Second Edition, Harper & Row Publishers, pp. 712-714 (1971).
Liposomes have been used as a drug delivery system. This approach takes advantage of the fact that liposomes have a relatively impervious lipid bilayer which may enclose an interior aqueous space and thereby provide a method to completely encapsulate various drugs within this interior space. Szoka, supra, at p. 468. An important aspect of a delivery system of this type would be that the active ingredient drug was unavailable to the aqueous medium outside the liposome until it reached its target. Janoff et al., U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 4,880,635 (1989).
It has been observed that the tissues of vertebrates, when added to citrated plasma and recalcified, will profoundly accelerate clotting time. This tissue constituent which has been observed to activate the coagulation protease cascades is commonly referred to as thromboplastin or tissue factor (TF).
In 1935, the use of thromboplastin (procoagulant tissue factor) was first described in a one stage PT test (Quick, J. Biol. Chem., 109:73-74, 1935). This test employed thromboplastin derived from mammalian tissue and a standard curve prepared with dilutions of pooled normal human plasma. The modern version of this test is easy to perform and can be automated.
The prothrombin time (PT) test is the most commonly performed assay in the coagulation laboratory. Variants of this test have a number of uses (White, et al., Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Basic Principles and Clinical Practice, Coleman, et al., eds., J. B. Lippencott Co., Philadelphia, pp. 1048-1060, 1987). One use is to assess deficiencies in the extrinsic pathway of coagulation (factors VII, X, V, and prothrombin). A second use is to monitor patients undergoing long term oral anticoagulant therapy for disorders such as recurrent venous thrombosis and cancer (Hirsh, J., Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, 12:1-11, 1986). A third use is to evaluate liver dysfunction.
The therapeutic range of anticoagulant therapy is based on the avoidance of bleeding and thrombolic complications. When monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy, as well as for a variety of other conditions by the PT test, an elongation of prothrombin time by a factor of 2 is most desirable for long term therapy (O'Reilly, Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Basic Principles and Clinical Practice, Coleman, et al., eds., J. B. Lippencott Co., Philadelphia, pp. 1367-1372, 1987). This elongation factor is defined as the prothrombin ratio (PR) and is calculated by dividing the PT of a patient plasma by the PT of a pool of plasmas from normal individuals. A higher PR indicates a more sensitive PT reagent. The benefits of a more sensitive reagent for monitoring anticoagulation therapy is the use of lower doses of anticoagulant drug. These lower doses still provide adequate protection against thromboembolic disease while minimizing bleeding complications.
Several reagents for determining PTs are commercially available. These include Thromborel S (Curtis Matheson Scientific, Inc., Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Simplastin (Organon Teknika Corp., Charlotte, N.C.). These reagents yield very different PTs for the same patient plasma, with Thromborel S exhibiting a longer time than Simplastin. Lower doses of anticoagulant drug are therefore required to maintain extended PT times (high PR) when the PTs are monitored using Thromborel S instead of Simplastin. A need exists for an even more sensitive tissue factor based PT reagent to monitor anticoagulant therapy and other conditions. The present invention provides just such a sensitive reagent with its highly desirable PR.

Tissue factor based prothrombin time reagent


An antenna system for generating and configuring at least one defocused beam is provided. The antenna system includes a reflector having a focal plane and a non-parabolic curvature for forming the at least one defocused beam, and a plurality of feed antennas that illuminate the reflector. Each feed antenna is disposed in the focal plane of the reflector. The antenna system further includes at least one incoming signal dividing network that divides at least one incoming signal into a plurality of sub-signals, each corresponding to one of the feed antennas, a plurality of variable phase shifters, each receiving one of the sub-signals from the incoming signal dividing network and phase shifting the sub-signal to generate a corresponding phase-shifted sub-signal, and a plurality of fixed-amplitude amplifiers, at least one corresponding to each of the feed antennas. The at least one amplifier for each feed antenna amplifies the corresponding phase-shifted sub-signal to generate an amplified phase-shifted sub-signal which is provided to the corresponding feed antenna.

Satellites with reconfigurable payloads provide desirable on-orbit mission flexibility. A reconfigurable payload allows a satellite to change the shape and location of its beams in order to change earth coverage regions. These changes may be necessary in order to compensate for spacecraft yaw steering, to back up or replace another satellite in-orbit, or as a result of changing market demands or customer requirements.
One approach to providing a reconfigurable payload involves using a Gregorian reflector antenna with an elliptical sub-reflector in order to produce a very broad elliptical beam. By rotating the elliptical sub-reflector, the far-field beam can be rotated to compensate for the yaw rotation of the satellite. This approach suffers from reliability problems because the reconfiguration is mechanical. Moreover, the gain of such an antenna is insufficient for many applications.
Another approach to providing a reconfigurable payload uses phased array optics to illuminate a reflector. In this approach, several hundred optical elements are used to provide the required phase delay between elements. Because of the large number of elements, this approach suffers from increased mass and expense. Moreover, this approach is unsuitable for handling large power loads due to the fact that the large number of amplifiers required can not be accommodated on a spacecraft. Other limitations include the difficulty of power dissipation and very high cost.
Yet another approach uses a system in which a feed array is located out of the focal plane of a parabolic reflector to de-focus the beam. This approach provides limited or no beam reconfiguration. Further, because the basic reflector geometry is de-optimized, the system suffers from increased scan losses, inferior cross-polar performance, mutual coupling effects and the like. Moreover, the number of optical and other elements required is still undesirably large, and the system requires complex input and output hybrid matrices.
Accordingly, there is a need for a flexible, reconfigurable payload with less complexity, more beam configurability, better reliability, and higher performance. The present invention satisfies these needs, and provides other benefits as well.

Reconfigurable payload using non-focused reflector antenna for HIEO and GEO satellites


An optical displacement system for an input device of a host device includes a substrate; an aperture; a light source and a sensor chip attached to the substrate, an illumination optics to direct the light emitted by the light source to a surface of an object. The sensor chip is configured to receive at least part of the light emitted by the light source after the light has been scattered/reflected on the surface of the object.

The present invention relates to an input device based on an optical displacement system.
Optical technology is widely used in various consumer products. One such a product is an input device, e.g., a mouse, having an optical displacement system. The optical displacement system or optical module includes an optical sensor package, an LED, and a lens. The sensor package includes a sensor chip whereon electronic circuits are defined, a plurality of pins, and a package enclosing the chip.
The LED emits light that is scattered on an external surface and received by the sensor chip. The sensor chip uses the received images to determine the movement of the mouse. The movement of the mouse corresponds to the displacement information that is input to a host computer by the mouse. The displacement information is the displacement measured or detected by the mouse.
A mouse having such an optical displacement system is commonly referred to as an optical sensor mouse or optical mouse. The optical mouse is generally preferred over a mouse having a mechanical displacement system that uses a mechanical ball for obtaining displacement information. One reason is that the optical system generally only has solid state devices and does not have moveable parts, e.g., a displacement ball, that is more likely to breakdown from clogging or wear out. Another reason is that the optical system can be made to have a more compact size than a mechanical system, particularly with recent improvements in semiconductor fabrication technologies.
Reducing the size of the displacement system enables the mouse or input device to have a smaller form factor, thereby giving designers more freedom in adapting the internal structure of the product to the user requirements. In addition, a smaller-sized mouse provides easy portability and is desired by many consumers. Accordingly, although already small when compared to a mechanical displacement system, it would still be useful to reduce the size of an optical displacement system.

Optical displacement module and method to reduce the size of an optical pointing device thereof


A device for magnetically adhering to an external surface includes one or more magnets placed in a storage chamber. The magnet(s) always remain oriented to adhere to the external surface in any position of the device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to decorative magnets, and more particularly to a multi-magnet novelty device capable of carrying signs, advertisement displays, and interchangeable displays, on all of the device's curved surfaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art includes devices that employ magnets arranged inside structures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,253 discloses a block that includes a magnet body inside. U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,534 discloses a block that includes a metal ball inside, that ball being attracted to magnetic objects. Furthermore, it is known, for example, to provide "refrigerator" magnets to secure pieces of paper to a metal surface.
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/642,312 filed Aug. 15, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, discloses various embodiments of devices containing permanent magnets and in various polygonal shapes, whereby the respective devices can adhere to an outer magnetic/magnetizable surface to display decorative patterns and/or lettering imprinted thereon. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/836,035 filed Apr. 30, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, discloses a device for adhering to a magnetizable surface and including both a magnet adjustably positioned therein and means for orienting the magnet to face an outer surface of the device and thereby adhere the device to the magnetizable surface when placed adjacent to the same.
It has now been found possible to improve magnetic adherence of such devices to outer magnetic/magnetizable surfaces such as refrigerator doors, regardless of the position or orientation of the magnet(s) within such devices. For example, it is no longer necessary to either jiggle or shake such devices adjacent the outer surface(s) to ensure proper orientation for magnetic adherence, or fix the magnet at a particular orientation within the device to ensure magnetic adherence.


There is provided a camera module package including: a housing having an optical system; a board bonded to a bottom end of the housing and mounting an image sensor on a top surface thereof; a contact part integrally formed in the housing to electrically connect a sensor bonding pad of the image sensor with a board bonding pad of the board each other when the housing is engaged with the board. In the camera module package, a process of bonding the housing and the board together is performed at the same time as a process of electrically connecting the image sensor and the board to each other. This simplifies an assembly process and enhances productivity. Also, the camera module package is fundamentally free from contamination of external contact terminals caused by an overflowing bonding material when the board and the housing are bonded together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera module package, and more particularly, to a camera module package in which a process of bonding a housing and a board together is performed at the same time as a process of electrically connecting an image sensor and the board to simplify an assembly process and enhance productivity, and which is fundamentally free from contamination of an external contact terminal caused by an overflowing bonding material when the board and the housing are bonded together.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, of late, a mobile telecommunication terminal such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), and a portable personal computer (PC) has commonly performed transmission of not only text or voice data but also image data.
To enable image data transmission or image chatting in line with such a trend, recently a camera module package has been basically installed in the mobile telecommunication terminal.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional camera module package, in which A is a chip on board (COB) type and B is a chip on film (COF) type. As shown in FIG. 1A, the COB type camera module package includes a lens barrel having a lens 11 disposed in an inner space thereof, and a housing 120 having a female screw formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof to be threaded with a male screw formed on an outer surface of the lens barrel 10 so as to be engaged with the lens barrel 10.
A retainer 13 having a lens hole 13a of a predetermined size formed therein is assembled to the lens barrel 10 to fix the lens 11 in position. Also, an infra-red (IR) filter 25 is disposed in the housing 20.
A board 40 having an image sensor 30 wire-bonded thereon by a plurality of wires is assembled to a bottom of the housing 20.
However, in this conventional camera module package 1a, the image sensor 30 and the board 40 are connected together by wire bonding, thus requiring a sufficient space above the image sensor 30. This accordingly increases size of the package, thus hampering miniaturization. Also, this necessitates packaging on an individual basis to thereby undermine productivity and raise manufacturing costs.
Moreover, the housing 20 and the board 40 are bonded together by a bonding material such as epoxy. Here, the bonding material flowing over an outer edge of the board 40 contaminates an external contact terminal 43 formed on the outer edge of the board 40. This accordingly causes contact points between the external contact terminal and the socket to be in poor contact with each other, thereby increasing a defect ratio and degrading reliability.
Also, as shown in FIG. 1B, in the COF type camera module package 1b, a lens barrel 10′ having a lens embedded therein is screw-fastened to an inner surface of a housing 20′. A flexible board 40′ having an image sensor 30′ flip chip bonded thereon by bumps 35′ is assembled to a bottom of the housing 20′ having an IR filter 25′ disposed therein. An epoxy 45′ is filled in an outer edge of the image sensor 30′.
However, in this conventional camera module package 1b, the plurality of bumps 35′ should be provided to flip-chip bond the image sensor onto the board 40. This causes particle defects during a process or impairs an imaging area of the image sensor 30′.
Moreover, a conductive film, i.e., anisotropic conductive film (ACF) (not shown) is adhered on the board 40′ having an opening corresponding to the imaging area of the image sensor 30′. Then, the bumps 35′ are formed on a top of the image sensor 30′ to be in corresponding contact with pads (not shown) of the board. Thermal compression, when performed subsequently, may entail infiltration of foreign materials and contact defects. Besides, a considerable time is required to cure the conductive film, thus degrading productivity.
Also, when the bottom of the housing is bonded to the board by a bonding material, the bonding material overflows outward. This causes the external connecting terminal 43 formed on the outer edge of the board to be contaminated by the overflowing bonding material and in poor contact with other members. This has mainly led to deterioration of product reliability.


A method of protecting the internal protein of hair from damage by ultraviolet light, comprising the step of applying, to the hair, a hair treatment composition comprising a lactone, a disaccharide, an inorganic salt and an organic acid or salt thereof, having a pH in the range of from 3 to 6.5 prior to the application of an ultraviolet light to the hair, and a use of such a hair treatment composition, in the treatment of hair, to protect hair from damage by ultraviolet light.

Consumers regularly subject their hair to intensive treatment and care and styling routines to help them achieve their desired look. The actions performed by consumers introduce modifications to the chemistry of hair keratin protein, which results in micro- and macro-structural changes which, in turn, change physical properties of the fibre: the consequences of these changes are generally perceived by the consumer as damage. Daily exposure to environmental elements exacerbates the problem. Ultraviolet light is a particularly damaging environmental element, and is a particular problem in countries with a high UV index.
Hair that has been damaged has internal protein with a reduced denaturation temperature compared to that of virgin hair. The reduction in denaturation temperature is attributed to a photochemical induced degradation of the internal hair cortex proteins. The amino acids within the proteins absorb the UVA and UVB radiation producing free radicals and breaks bonds, reducing the overall structural integrity of the internal cortex proteins.
Various organic molecules and combinations thereof have been suggested for use in the treatment of damaged hair.
WO 2004054526 describes hair treatment compositions for the care and repair of damaged hair, and for improving hair manageability, comprising a disaccharide, (in particular trehalose).
WO 2004054525 describes hair treatment compositions for the care and repair of damaged hair, and for improving hair manageability, comprising a disaccharide (in particular trehalose), and a diol (in particular 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol).
WO 2009040240 discloses hair treatment compositions comprising a lactone and a disaccharide for the treatment of dry, damaged and/or unmanageable hair.
Our as yet unpublished European patent application, EP15169037.7, discloses the use of a hair treatment composition comprising a lactone, a disaccharide, an inorganic salt and an organic acid or salt thereof, having a pH in the range of from 3 to 6.5, in the treatment of hair, to increase the denaturation temperature of the internal protein of hair.
Various low molecular weight compounds have also been used to protect hair from the damaging effects of chemical treatments.
Protein hydrolysates have been used to protect the hair from chemical treatments. For example, Roddick-Lanzilotta et al. have used a pre-treatment with a protein hydrolysate to reduce the oxidative damage produced by oxidative treatments (permanent colourants and bleaches). The inventors argue that the proteins act as sacrificial molecules, diverting the oxidative damage away from hair proteins (Roddick-Lanzilotta et al., J. Cosmet. Sci. 58 (July/August), 405-411 (2007))
Anti-oxidants have also been used to protect hair from free-radical damage. For example, Meinert et al have investigated the use of commercially available antioxidants on sun protection properties of hair care products (Meinert et al., J Cosmet Sci. 55 Suppl:S105-12 (2004)).
Despite the prior art, there remains a need for better protection of hair from ultraviolet light damage. Protection is distinct from repair in that it helps to prevent damage from occurring. Repair is required for hair that is already damaged and repair treatments are typically applied to hair after the hair has suffered damage, such as exposure to a damaging substance or action. In contrast, protection is required before the hair is damaged, thus reducing or preventing damage from occurring to the hair. Thus, the impact of the damage, such as exposure to a damaging substance or action is reduced.
The changes in hair that occur when the hair is damaged differs according to the type of damage. Heat damage caused by hair dryers and heated appliances such as tongs and straighteners is limited largely to the cuticle of the hair. Likewise, combing and other mechanical damage mainly affects the cuticle with the internal proteins being minimally affected. Chemical treatments, for example bleach and colourants involve the application of liquid actives to the hair whereas photochemical sources, such as ultraviolet light, act on hair by radiation. Both chemical and photochemical damage may reach the internal structure of the hair shaft.
The specific action of UV light on hair has been studied. For example, Coll. Antropol. 32 (2008) Suppl. 2: 163-165 Review; UV Damage of the Hair; K Šebetić et al discloses that photochemical impairment of the hair includes degradation and loss of hair proteins as well as degradation of hair pigment. UVB radiation is responsible for hair protein loss and UVA radiation for colour changes. Absorption of radiation in photosensitive amino acids of the hair and their photochemical degradation produces free radicals, which have an adverse impact on hair proteins, especially keratin. Amino acids cystine, methionine, tryptophan, tyrosine and histidine are the most submissive to photochemical degradation. It is further disclosed that protecting the cuticle is very important for keeping hair shaft's integrity and that this can be achieved by avoiding noxious impacts or by implementation of hair care products with UV filters. Physical and chemical filters achieve protection from UVA and UVB radiation.
It is known from Robbins C. R. (2012) Chemical and Physical Behaviour of Human Hair that carbonyl groups are formed during oxidation at the peptide backbone carbon during ultraviolet exposure. These carbonyl groups react with protein amino groups, primarily lysine. The photochemical breakdown of disulfide bridges occurs within the exocuticle and matrix of the cortex.
Oxidation of amino acids due to bleaching damage has been studied by Dyer J M, Bell F, Koehn H, Vernon J A, Cornellison C D, Clerens S, et al. in Redox proteomic evaluation of bleaching and alkali damage in human hair. Int J Cosm Sci. 2013; 35(6):555-61. Epub 22 Jul. 2013. Amino acids, such as serine, cysteine and phenylalanine, are seen to undergo a series of structural changes, becoming rich in hydroxy, nitro and sulphoxy groups, as the level of bleach damage increases.
We also have found that different types of damage affect different amino acids in the hair.
In a comparison between bleaching damage and UV damage we found that methionine is affected significantly more by UV than by bleaching damage. On the other hand, bleaching leads to much higher levels of aspartic acid leaching that UV light.
The difference in amino acids affected reflects the different modes of action for each type of damage.
We have now found that hair can be protected from damage by ultraviolet light by the application of a hair treatment composition comprising a lactone, a disaccharide, an inorganic salt and an organic acid or salt thereof, which has a pH in the range of from 3 to 6.5, prior to the application of UV light to the hair.
The benefit is seen for hair that has previously been damaged, as well as virgin hair.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and haptic feedback interface device. A haptic feedback device communicates with a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects and characterizes force sensations using the interface tool, and a graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed. The characterized force sensation is output to a user manipulatable object of the force feedback device so that the user can feel the designed force sensation The user can include multiple force sensations in a compound force sensation, where the compound sensation is graphically displayed to indicate the relative start times and duration of each of the force sensations. The user can also associate a sound with the force sensation, such that the sound is output in conjunction with the output of the force sensation.

The present invention relates generally to interface devices for allowing humans to interface with computer systems, and more particularly to computer interface devices that allow the user to provide input to computer systems and allow computer systems to provide force feedback to the user.
Users interact with computer systems for a variety of reasons. A computer system typically displays a visual environment to a user on a display output device. Using an interface device, a user can interact with the displayed environment to perform functions and tasks on the computer, such as playing a game, experiencing a simulation or virtual reality environment, using a computer aided design system, operating a graphical user interface (GUI), etc. Common human-computer interface devices used for such interaction include a joystick, mouse, trackball, stylus, tablet, pressure-sensitive ball, or the like, that is connected to the computer system controlling the displayed environment. Typically, the computer updates the environment in response to the user's manipulation of a user-manipulatable physical object such as a joystick handle or mouse, and provides visual and audio feedback to the user utilizing the display screen and audio speakers.
In some interface devices, tactile and/or kinesthetic feedback is also provided to the user, more generally known as "force feedback" or "haptic feedback." These types of interface devices can provide physical sensations which are felt by the user manipulating the interface device. Typically, one or more motors or other actuators are coupled to the manipulandum or device and are connected to the controlling computer system. The computer system controls forces on the device in conjunction and coordinated with displayed events and interactions by sending control signals or commands to the actuators.
A problem with the prior art development of force feedback sensations in software is that the programmer of force feedback applications does not have an intuitive sense as to how forces will feel when adjusted in certain ways, and thus must go to great effort to develop characteristics of forces that are desired for a specific application. For example, a programmer may wish to create a specific spring and damping force sensation between two graphical objects, where the force sensation has a particular stiffness, play, offset, etc. In current force feedback systems, the programmer must determine the parameters and characteristics of the desired force by a brute force method, by simply setting parameters, testing the force, and adjusting the parameters in an iterative fashion. This method is cumbersome because it is often not intuitive how a parameter will affect the feel of a force as it is actually output on the user object; the programmer often may not even be close to the desired force sensation with initial parameter settings. Other types of forces may not be intuitive at all, such as a spring having a negative stiffness, and thus force sensation designers may have a difficult time integrating these types of sensations into software applications. Thus, a tool is needed for assisting the programmer or developer in intuitively and easily setting force feedback characteristics to provide desired force sensations.

Design of force sensations for haptic feedback computer interfaces


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for identifying susceptibility to induced charge leakage. In examples, a susceptibility test sequence comprising a cache line flush instruction is used to repeatedly activate a row of a memory unit. The susceptibility test sequence causes induced charge leakage within rows that are physically adjacent to the activated row, such that a physical adjacency map can be generated. In other examples, a physical adjacency map is used to identify a set of adjacent rows to a target row. A susceptibility test sequence is used to repeatedly activate the set of adjacent rows, after which the content of the target row is analyzed to determine whether the any bits of the target row flipped as a result of induced charge leakage. If flipped bits are not identified, an indication is generated that the memory unit is not susceptible to induced charge leakage.

Maintaining the integrity of data stored in computer memory is important, not only in the context of reliability, but also for security considerations. However, in some instances, computer memory may be susceptible to induced charge leakage, which may cause a bit of the memory to "flip" or change from its original value in response to other activity in the memory. Such charge leakage may result in data loss or corruption, or may introduce potential security issues (e.g., if the bit relates to memory access permissions, is outside of an applications sandbox, etc.).
It is with respect to these and other general considerations that embodiments have been described. Also, although relatively specific problems have been discussed, it should be understood that the embodiments should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background.

Identification of susceptibility to induced charge leakage


A circuit for generating a data strobe signal of a semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of internal clock delay units, a selecting control unit and a pulse generating unit. The plurality of internal clock delay units delay an internal clock signal in response to a plurality of CAS latency signal. The selecting control unit logically combines a data latch control signal to latch input data with output signals from the plurality of internal clock delay units. The pulse generating unit generates the data strobe signal having a predetermined pulse in response to an output signal from the selecting control unit. In the circuit, a tDQSS margin is regulated depending on change of tCK of an operating frequency in response to a CAS latency signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a circuit for generating a data strobe signal of a semiconductor memory device, and more specifically, to a technology of regulating a tDQSS margin depending on change of an operating frequency tCK in response to a CAS latency signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A synchronous DRAM (hereinafter, referred to as "SDRAM") which is operated synchronously with respect to an external system clock has been developed to improve an operating speed of a DRAM. Additionally, a Rambus DRAM and a double data rate (hereinafter, referred to as "DDR") SDRAM for processing data synchronously with respect to rising and falling edges of one clock have been also developed to further improve the operating speed of the data.
In case of the DDR SDRAM, a source synchronous interface is used because data are transmitted at a high speed. Here, input/output operations of the data are performed synchronously with respect to a data strobe signal (hereinafter, referred to as "DQS") at a data source.
FIG. 1a is a timing diagram of a conventional clock CLK and conventional data strobe signals DQS1 and DQS2.
At a JEDEC standard, tDQSS of DDR1 (time from a rising edge of the clock to a first rising edge of the data strobe signal) is defined as 0.75*tCK˜1.25*tCK, and tDQSS of DDR2 is defined as WL (Write Latency: time from input of a write command to input of data) −0.25*tCK˜WL+0.25*tCK.
Hereinafter, the data strobe signal and a tDQSS margin will be explained using an example of DDR1. As mentioned above, in case of the DDR1, a falling edge of the data strobe signal DQS ranges from 0.75*tCK to 1.25*tCK, that is, the data strobe signal has a margin of 0.5*tCK.
FIG. 1b is a diagram illustrating data latched by the data strobe signals of FIG. 1a.
A skew between the data strobe signals is represented by tDQSS. The fastest data strobe signal DQS1 can be enabled after 0.75tCK from the write command, and the latest data strobe signal DQS2 is enabled after 1.25tCK from the write command. In other words, one data strobe signal is not constantly inputted at the same timing whenever a write operation is performed but fast or late inputted depending on change of peripheral environment.
In this case, data arranged by each data strobe signal have skews of 0.5tCK, respectively.
As a result, the latest data of data inputted by a first write command should latched not by a control signal of a clock domain but by the data strobe signal before the fastest data of data inputted by a second write command is enabled.
The data arranged by the data strobe signals have a timing margin of 0.5tCK in a domain cross portion (where data are transited from a data strobe domain to a clock domain), and a value of tDQSS has a setup/hold margin of 0.25tCK.
However, it is difficult to secure a sufficient tDQSS margin at tCK of all operating frequencies because a value of tCK is differentiated depending on an operating frequency of the memory.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a conventional circuit for generating a data strobe signal.
The conventional circuit for generating a data strobe signal comprises inverters IV1 and IV2, a delay unit 10, a NAND gate ND1 and a pulse generating unit 20.
The inverter IV1 inverts an internal clock signal ICLK, and the inverter IV2 inverts a data latch control signal DLC. Here, the internal clock signal ICLK to delay an external clock signal CLK is a clock signal which is a basis of the internal operation, and the data latch control signal DLC is a control signal to latch data inputted externally at the write operation.
The delay unit 10 delays an output signal from the inverter IV1. Here, the value of tDQSS is regulated depending on a delay time of the delay unit 10, and the delay unit 10 previously set the delay time.
The NAND gate ND1 performs a NAND operation on output signals from the inverter IV2 and the delay unit 10.
The pulse generating unit 20 outputs a data strobe signal DSTB having a pulse in response to an output signal from the NAND gate ND1. That is, the pulse generating unit 20 generates a pulse signal having a width corresponding to an internally designated delay when the internal clock signal ICLK transits to 'high'.
In the above-described conventional circuit for generating the data strobe signal, as shown in FIG. 3, the data strobe signal DSTB is enabled to 'low' when the internal clock signal ICLK is applied and the data latch control signal DLC is enabled to 'low'. That is, while the data latch control signal DLC is at the low level, the data strobe signal DSTB is generated.
As a result, since the value of tDQSS is regulated depending on the delay time determined in the delay unit 10 regardless of change of the tCK resulting from the change of the operating frequency, it is difficult to secure the sufficient tDQSS margin when the operating frequency is change to cause change of the tCK.

Circuit for generating data strobe signal of semiconductor memory device


An alignment mechanism for aligning the ball with the socket of trailer hitch comprised of a ball portion attached to a towing vehicle and a socket portion attached to a trailer. The alignment mechanism has an alignment body that is cylindrical-shaped having an outer wall, an upper face, a lower face, and a circular opening passing through the center of the body. The circular opening has a diameter that is substantially the same as the diameter of the socket. The upper face has a U-shaped slot and a wedge-shaped slot, the slots being adapted to receive the outer end of the socket portion. The lower face has a truncated conical surface extending upwardly and inwardly between the outer wall of the alignment body and the circular opening. A stop member extends downwardly from the truncated conical surface.

The present invention relates to a trailer hitch with an alignment mechanism.
Trailers pulled by a vehicle are coupled together with a hitch mechanism. One of the most popular hitch mechanisms is of the ball and socket type. The ball portion is attached to the rear of the towing vehicle and faces upwardly The socket portion is attached to the trailer tongue and faces downwardly. The socket portion receives the ball portion during the hitching process, and has a locking mechanism for preventing the ball from leaving the socket until desired.
The hitching process involves a driver backing the towing vehicle towards the parked trailer and aligning the ball under the socket to allow the two to be brought together by lowering the trailer tongue to which the socket assembly is attached. Often several attempts must be made to bring the ball and socket into proper alignment, all to the frustration of the driver and assistants.


A decorative panel kit for privacy fences has a plurality of panels. Each panel has a portion of an image imprinted on an exterior surface. Upon assembly to a privacy fence section, the assembled plurality of panels has adjacent panels each with the portion of the image aligned to depict a complete image. Each panel is sized with a length (L) extending from a first end to a second end and portions of the length adjacent the ends are configured to fit into a space formed in a privacy fence section between extending members and fence boards. The extending members include a first member and a second member. The first and second members hold a plurality of fence boards to form the privacy fence sections. The end portions of the length of each panel are held in the space between the first and second members and the fence boards.

The use of art or signage on the exterior of buildings or walls is a common practice. At sporting venues like baseball fields, fences or walls often carry advertising. Typically, these signs are made of flexible waterproof material on a large single panel with an image of the advertiser's choice. These signs are expensive to make and generally not particularly durable in sever weather conditions. The introduction of residential or commercial privacy fences has become popular. These privacy fences are often made of durable plastic. They commonly have plastic posts anchored to a buried post or cemented in a hole with fence panel sections between and secured to the posts. The fence panel sections have a pair of members to hold fence boards in place. The members get fastened to the posts and generally extend horizontally between the posts. The members have a cross section, typically "U" shaped, into which the fence boards slide to form the fence panel section. The fence boards are typically oriented lengthwise vertically relative to the ground and parallel to the posts. Alternatively, the fence boards could be oriented horizontally relative to the ground. This is less common, but for purposes of the present invention, the decorative panel kit described herein can work with either configuration.
The present invention provides a unique panel kit with a decorative image made with a unique method of manufacture of the kit and of application of the kit to a section of privacy fence.


A dual-rotor machine comprising a dual rotor support structure rotatably connected to a frame. A stationary stator is disposed between the rotors and is fixed to the frame. An inner rotor and outer rotor, each comprising a permanent magnet Halbach array, are coaxially disposed with the stator and are rotable about the stator. In this configuration, the inner rotor channels its magnetic flux to its outside, while the outer rotor channels its magnetic flux to its inside. The magnetic flux density at the stator for the dual-rotor machine can be as high as 2 Tesla or higher for high-grade neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet material, and the stored magnetic energy for conversion to mechanical or electrical energy available to the stator may be at least 0.5 kJ/m. The rotor Halbach arrays may comprise monolithic permanent magnets with continuously variable magnetic field direction.

Power and torque density, i.e. power and torque per kg, are important performance parameters for many applications of electrical machines—motors and generators. One example of applications for which power density is of utmost importance is electrical propulsion for future aircraft. Accordingly, various possibilities for improving power and torque densities of synchronous machines have been investigated. The general approach to maximize power and torque density is to maximize magnetic flux density at the stator, and to make all components of the machine as light as possible in order to maximize efficiency all potential losses must be minimized.


Provided is a motor driver including: a housing; an electronic component that is disposed inside the housing, and that drives or controls a motor; and a fan motor that is disposed below a top plate of the housing, and that causes air to pass from an opening in a bottom plate of the housing to an opening in the top plate. In the motor driver, an outer surface of the top plate is an inclined surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor driver including electronic components for driving or controlling a motor, and a cabinet including such electronic components.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some motor drivers mounted inside cabinets are equipped with a fan motor. When the fan motor is in operation, air passes through the inside of the motor driver, thereby cooling the motor driver. However, when the fan motor is in operation, mist of cutting fluid scattered from the machine tool is accumulated at the fan motor, and the cutting fluid consequently adheres to the fan motor, in some cases. The cutting fluid adhering to the fan motor drops, in the form of water drops or oil drops, down to the electronic components positioned below the fan motor in the motor driver, which may cause a breakdown of the electronic components.
To address this problem, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H09-172281, a fan motor is attached so as to be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-48946, a plane for mounting a fan motor is inclined. Accordingly, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H09-172281 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-48946, cutting fluid is guided to a certain area where no electronic components are disposed.
In some cases, a laterally-extending wall is disposed above a motor driver. In such a case, mist of cutting fluid sprayed from the motor driver onto the wall by a fan motor is accumulated on the wall and thereby forms a fluid pool. When a certain amount of cutting fluid is accumulated, the cutting fluid drops from the wall down to the motor driver under its own weight. Then, the cutting fluid flows into the motor driver through a gap at a top plate of the motor driver, which may cause a breakdown of the electronic components.
Although fan motors are normally attached to the upper end of a motor driver, some fan motors are attached to an inner part of a motor driver with a distance from the upper end of the motor driver. In such a case, mist of cutting fluid is sprayed onto an inner surface of a top plate of the housing of the motor driver by a fan motor, and accumulated at the inner surface. Then, the cutting fluid thus accumulated drops from the inner surface of the top plate down to the electronic components in the motor driver, which may cause a breakdown of the electronic components as in the above case.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a motor driver and a cabinet that are capable of preventing a breakdown of electronic components mounted therein, due to cutting fluid.


Methods include receiving a pattern to be searched in a memory having a plurality of sets of memory elements with each set coupled to a separate data line and corresponding to a same set of bit positions of the pattern. Methods further include receiving a pattern of data to be programmed into a memory, programming a first data state into one memory cell of each cell pair of a plurality of cell pairs of a memory array, and programing a second data state into another memory cell of each cell pair of the plurality of cell pairs for each bit position of the pattern. Memory configured to facilitate such methods include a plurality of cell pairs, each cell pair of the plurality of cell pairs programmed to store a same bit of data corresponding to a particular bit position of a pattern to be searched in the memory.

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory including random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), and flash memory.
Flash memory devices have developed into a popular source of non-volatile memory for a wide range of electronic applications. Flash memory devices typically use a one-transistor memory cell that allows for high memory densities, high reliability, and low power consumption. Changes in threshold voltage of the cells, through programming of a charge storage structure, such as floating gates or trapping layers or other physical phenomena, determine the data state of each cell. Common uses for flash memory include personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, digital media players, digital recorders, games, appliances, vehicles, wireless devices, cellular telephones, and removable memory modules, and the uses for flash memory continue to expand.
Flash memory typically utilizes one of two basic architectures known as NOR flash and NAND flash. The designation is derived from the logic used to read the devices. In NOR flash architecture, a logical column of memory cells is coupled in parallel with each memory cell coupled to a data line, such as those typically referred to as digit (e.g., bit) lines. In NAND flash architecture, a column of memory cells is coupled in series with only the first memory cell of the column coupled to a bit line.
Content addressable memories (CAM) are memories that implement a lookup table function in a single clock cycle. They use dedicated comparison circuitry to perform the lookups. CAM application are often used in network routers for packet forwarding and the like. Each individual memory bit in a CAM requires its own comparison circuit in order to allow the CAM to detect a match between a bit of the key word (e.g., pattern) with a bit stored in the CAM. Typical CAM cells, then, use approximately nine to ten transistors for a static random access memory (SRAM)-based CAM, or four to five transistors for a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)-based CAM.
In a two cell NAND CAM, one bit of data is stored in a pair of cells, each cell being programmed to one of at least two data states (S0, S1). One bit of a pattern is coded as two read voltages on word lines (Vr0, Vr1) of the pair of cells. A combination of read voltages and cell states is used to determine a match/no-match condition for a bit, e.g., when the bit of the pattern is concordant with the data of a cell pair (e.g., cell pair does not conduct), a match may be indicated, and when the bit of the pattern is opposite of the data of the cell pair (e.g., cell pair conducts), a no-match condition may be indicated. Pass voltages are used to remove cell pairs in a string that are not to be part of a match operation, e.g., cause these cell pairs to conduct regardless of their data states. Typically, a determination of a match/no-match condition for a data pattern will examine a plurality of cell pairs connected in parallel to a bit line. If all cell pairs under examination match, then no conduction will be present on the bit line (e.g., a precharged data line), which will not discharge, indicating a match for the cell pairs under examination. If any cell pair under examination does not match, e.g., both cells of at least one cell pair conduct, the bit line (e.g., a precharged data line) is discharged, indicating a no-match condition.
FIG. 1 shows a basic two cell NAND CAM. Such a CAM is described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/449,082, filed Apr. 17, 2012, titled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PATTERN MATCHING". In a two cell NAND CAM 100, one bit of data can be stored as threshold voltages (representing data states) in two cells, 102 and 104. A logical 0 value for a bit of data programmed into two cells 102 and 104 can be represented by a first threshold voltage of 3 volts (e.g., within the data state S1) on the first cell (e.g., cell 102) and a second threshold voltage of 1 volt (e.g., within the data state S0) on the second cell (e.g., cell 104), and a logical 1 value for a bit of data programmed into two cells can be represented by a first threshold voltage of 1 volt (e.g., within the data state S0) on the first cell (e.g., cell 102) and a second threshold voltage of 3 volts (e.g., within the data state S1) on the second cell (e.g., cell 104). Although specific voltage levels are provided herein for ease of understanding, they are merely examples and may vary depending upon the particular memory technology utilized and other operation parameters.
A pattern to be matched in the memory is stored or received as well. Each bit of the pattern to be matched is represented by two voltages on word lines (e.g., Vr0 and Vr1). For example, a logical 0 value for a pattern bit may cause a voltage of 2 volts (e.g., Vr0, a voltage sufficient to activate a cell having the S0 data state but not activate a cell having the S1 data state) to be applied to the gate of the first cell (e.g., cell 102) of the two cells, and may cause a voltage of 4 volts (e.g., Vr1,a voltage sufficient to activate a cell having the S1 data state) to be applied to the gate of the second cell (e.g., cell 104) of the two cells. A logical 1 value for a pattern bit may cause a voltage of 4 volts (e.g., a voltage sufficient to activate a cell having the S1 data state) to be applied to the gate of the first cell (e.g., cell 102) of the two cells, and may cause a voltage of 2 volts (e.g., a voltage sufficient to activate a cell having the S0 data state but not activate a cell having the S1 data state) to be applied to the gate of the second cell (e.g., cell 104) of the two cells. A comparison is made to a representation of data stored in the array, where each bit of stored data is also represented by two cells, each having its own programmed threshold voltage. A register may be used to store the pattern of bits, e.g., two bits of the register for each bit of the pattern.
With these threshold voltages and word line voltages, a no-match between the data stored in the cells 102 and 104 is determined when both cells conduct, and the bit line (e.g., precharged data line) for those cells discharges. When at least one cell does not conduct, a match condition is determined. FIG. 2 shows basic no-match 202 and match 204 conditions for a two cell NAND CAM. For the example of FIG. 2, cell 102 has the S0 data state and cell 104 has the S1 data state. As such, if voltage Vr0 is applied to word line WL0 and voltage Vr1 is applied to word line WL1, both cells 102 and 104 conduct as each voltage is sufficient to activate its respective cell 102 or 104. Conversely, if voltage Vr1 is applied to word line WL0 and voltage Vr0 is applied to word line WL1, cell 104 does not conduct as the voltage Vr0 is insufficient to activate cell 104. Although cell 102 would be activated in this situation, the cell pair 102/104 does not conduct as a result of their series connection.
A false match condition in NAND CAM cells can be a critical issue. A false match occurs when a cell that should be conducting moves to being a non-conducting cell. NAND memory has some inherent reliability issues. In a situation where pattern matching as in a NAND CAM memory is being performed, the reliability of NAND memory limits its application.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for increased reliability of NAND CAM memories.

Methods and apparatus for pattern matching in a memory containing sets of memory elements


A coil component capable of reducing leakage magnetic flux includes a body, a coil portion embedded therein, a shielding layer formed on a surface of the body, and a ground electrode electrically connected to the shielding layer on the surface of the body and grounding the shielding layer.

An inductor, a coil electronic component, is a representative passive electronic component used in an electronic device, together with a resistor and a capacitor.
As electronic devices are gradually increased in performance and miniaturized, the number of electronic components used in the electronic devices has increased and electronic components have been miniaturized.
For this reason, demand for removing noise source such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) of the electronic components is gradually increased.
According to a current general EMI shielding technology, the electronic components are mounted on a substrate and the electronic components and the substrate are then simultaneously surrounded by a shield can.


A method and system for a power distribution system are provided. The method includes determining at a central controller normal mode configuration settings for a plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system and determining at the central controller alternate mode configuration settings for the plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system. The method further includes controlling with the central controller the operation of the plurality of circuit breakers based on the normal mode configuration settings and the alternate mode configuration settings.

This invention relates generally to methods and systems for controlling power distribution systems, and more particularly to such methods and systems for controlling circuit breakers within the power distribution systems.
Power distribution systems typically include access points, for example, switchgear units having a plurality of circuit breakers for controlling the flow of power through the system and protecting the system, such as, by providing fault protection. Service personnel may need to access these different points to perform maintenance, service, diagnosis, etc. For example, service personnel or operators may need to replace, service and/or perform maintenance on components of the switchgear, and more particularly, circuit breakers of the switchgear. Occasionally, this work is performed on energized equipment due to necessity. The potential energy of typical switchgear is such that in the event of an fault an arch flash will occur resulting in damage to equipment and/or serious harm or death to service personnel can occur.
In order to ensure that power is provided continuously, except to faulted branch(s), circuit breaker delays are added throughout the system. These delays in the circuit protection typically must meet minimum standards for safety. However, the more sensitive a circuit breaker, the easier the circuit breaker will be activated (e.g., tripped by a voltage spike), which could result, for example, in the shut down of a facility or manufacturing plant. Thus, there is a tradeoff between selectivity and safety.
In order to increase safety to personnel working on (and around) these systems, while also maintaining power through the system, it is known to provide localized safety measures. For example, it is known to increase fault sensitivity in a breaker near a service personnel or operator. For example, a button on a breaker or a switchgear box may be activated to increase fault sensitivity to one or more circuit breakers in the switchgear. Sensors, such as on the door of the switchgear box, also may be provided and cause a portion of the switchgear to have reduced power when the door is opened. In general, an individual controller is provided with each circuit breaker that allows local control of the circuit breaker. However, the increased fault sensitivity operation may affect other parts of the power system. Essentially, these safety measures are used to protect individuals working on or around the power system and temporarily increase the susceptibility of the system to nuisance and trip certain branch circuits in order to minimize the impact to equipment and personnel in the event of a fault event.
Thus, known methods and systems for providing safety measures may not adequately factor in the effects on other parts of the overall power system. Accordingly, disruption to the system may result. Further, it is not possible to quickly initiate measures in other portions of the system, if needed, to compensate for or monitor the activation of the safety measures.

Method and system for controlling a power distribution system


A light collector is provided to converge light from a light source down to a range of acceptance angles of an illumination optic, and to couple the converged light into the illumination optic, where the range of acceptance angles of the illumination optic is less than a range of emission angles of the light source.

For presenting information visually, a computer display may include an optical system. A computer input device may also include an optical system for detecting user input. In various ways, computer display and input devices have been integrated in the form of multifunction components. One such example is an optical touch-screen, where user input is detected optically and is guided by context-dependent graphics appearing on the screen.
In some cases, practical construction of relatively small-footprint optical systems for display and/or input devices presents a challenge because of the stiff dimensional constraints inherent therein. The light-guiding approaches of traditional optical engineering may, in these devices, be difficult to scale down to provide satisfactory display quality or input functionality.

Light collector for an illumination optic


A method for operating semiconductor manufacturing equipment is provided. The method includes forming a conductive thin film on an inner side surface of a reaction chamber and on a substrate in the reaction chamber, the conductive thin film including a first conductive material, and forming a particle preventive layer on the inner side surface of the reaction chamber in which the conductive thin film is formed.

The inventive concept relates to a method for operating semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and more particularly to a method for operating semiconductor manufacturing equipment, which can improve productivity of semiconductors.
In producing semiconductors, the stopping time of semiconductor manufacturing equipment exerts a severe influence on the productivity of semiconductors. That is, while semiconductor manufacturing equipment is in a stopped state, semiconductor production is not performed.
Semiconductor manufacturing equipment may include a reaction chamber for forming a thin film on a semiconductor substrate. If particles that exceed a controllable level are detected on the thin film that is formed using the semiconductor manufacturing equipment, the semiconductor substrate on which the particles that exceed the controllable level are detected may not be used to produce a semiconductor device. In this case, the productivity of semiconductors may be lowered.
Recently, as semiconductor devices gradually become more miniaturized, particles that fall on a semiconductor substrate during formation of a thin film may directly cause process inferiority.

Method for operating semiconductor manufacturing equipment


The present invention comprises a utility transport truck having electro-pneumatic controls for coupling and decoupling of devices which are in weight and sensitivity categories that make manual movement without power assist difficult or impossible.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,522 discloses a footed cart having normally disengaged wheels. This concept comprises a wheeled cart in which the wheels can be retracted allowing the cart to stand on four legs. When in motion, the wheels are extended and the cart is manually pulled or pushed by means of a handle. It is not designed to move another object, nor is it self-propelled.


Methods and apparatus enable expanding tubing in a borehole of a hydrocarbon well. According to some embodiments, an expander device includes a collapsible swage formed of collets, at least one slip arrangement and a hydraulic jack to stroke the swage through tubing to be expanded. In operation, expanding tubing may include securing an expansion tool to the tubing, lowering the tool and tubing into a borehole, actuating a collapsible expander of the expansion tool to an extended configuration, and supplying fluid pressure to a jack coupled to the expander thereby moving the expander through the tubing which is held by at least one of first and second tubing holding devices disposed respectively ahead of the expander and behind the expander.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to tubing expansion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods and apparatus utilized in the oil and gas industry enable placing tubular strings in a borehole and then expanding the circumference of the strings in order increase a fluid path through the tubing and in some cases to line the walls of the borehole. Some of the advantages of expanding tubing in a borehole include relative ease and lower expense of handling smaller diameter tubing and ability to mitigate or eliminate formation of a restriction caused by the tubing thereby enabling techniques that may create a monobore well. Many examples of downhole expansion of tubing exist including patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,532, owned by the assignee of the present invention.
However, prior expansion techniques may not be possible or desirable in some applications. Further, issues that present problems with some of these approaches may include ease of makeup at the drill rig floor and operation, ability to transmit torque across an expander tool, and capability to recover a stuck expander tool or insert the tool through restrictions smaller than an expansion diameter. Carrying the expander tool in with unexpanded tubing and fixing the tubing relative to the expander tool can create additional challenges for some applications.
Therefore, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatus for expanding tubing.

System and methods for tubular expansion


A resistor, including a resistive element made of a metal plate, has a low resistance resulting from connection terminal electrodes formed on both ends of the lower surface of the resistive element. The object thereof is to achieve weight reduction and lower costs by reducing the height of the resistor. To achieve the above object, the ends of the lower surface of the resistive element are provided with recesses for accommodating the connection terminal electrodes, while at least the intermediate area of the lower surface of the resistive element between the connection terminal electrodes is covered with an insulator. Alternatively, a recess may be formed in the middle of the lower surface of the resistive element for using the ends of the lower surface as a pair of connection terminal electrodes, the recess being internally covered with an insulator.

The present invention relates to a chip resistor having a low resistance of, for example, no more than 1 Ω, and to a method of making the same.
As a prior art document, JP-A-2001-118701 proposes a chip resistor 1 constructed as shown in FIG. 1.
Specifically, the resistor element 2 of a chip resistor 1 of the prior art is formed in rectangular shape of metal plate of thickness T0, length L and width W, and made of a material such as an alloy constituted by adding metal having higher resistance such as nickel to a substrate metal having a low resistance such as copper. Connection terminal electrodes 4, 5 are provided in portions at the left and right ends of the lower surface of this resistor element 2, by using cutting processing to cut a recess 3 of length L0 and depth S in about the middle of the lower surface of this resistor element 2. In addition, plating layers 6, 7 are formed on these two connection terminal electrodes 4 and 5 in order to facilitate soldering to a printed circuit board, for example.
Also, in JP-A-2001-118701, when manufacturing a chip resistor constructed as described above, a method of manufacturing is proposed wherein plating layers 6, 7 for soldering are formed in a portion of each of the connection terminal electrodes 4 and 5 by plating processing in a condition with a resist mask for partial plating applied to the lower surface of the metal plate blank, the blank being formed by a large number of resistors arranged side by side in integrated fashion, and after cutting the recess 3 in the lower surface of the metal plate blank by cutting processing, the metal plate blank is then cut into each of the resistor elements.
However, with the chip resistor 1 of the prior art, there is a considerable risk that, when soldering onto the printed circuit board or the like, molten solder will become attached to portions between the two connection terminal electrodes 4, 5 on the resistor element 2 beyond the two connection terminal electrodes 4, 5, thereby producing a change in the resistance. In order to avoid this, the depth S in the recess 3 of the lower surface of the resistor element 2 may be made greater, but, if an attempt is made to increase the depth S in the recess 3 without changing the thickness T of the resistor element between the connection terminal electrodes, the overall height of the chip resistor 1 is increased and the weight is increased.
Also, in the method of manufacture of the prior art, it is arranged to form plating layers 6, 7 for soldering solely on the portions of the connection terminal electrodes 4, 5 by performing plating treatment in a condition with a resist mask for partial plating applied to the lower surface of the metal plate blank. In this manner, the manufacturing costs can be greatly increased due to the need for a step of forming a resist mask for partial plating beforehand on the lower surface of the metal plate blank prior to the plating step of forming the plating layers 6, 7 for the soldering, and also a step of separating and removing the resist mask for the partial plating after the plating step.

Chip resistor having low resistance and method of making the same


This invention relates to a braking device for a bicycle and in particular to one including an arm provided with a slot at an intermediate portion, a shoe having a rod at one side, a ball having a hole extending through a center thereof and a slit on its surface, a screw formed with a ring portion at one end and a threaded portion at another end, a knob having at one end a neck with a center through hole for receiving the rod of the shoe and at another end a slot with a curved surface at both sides, the neck of the knob being adapted to be received in the slot of the arm, and a nut engaged with the threaded portion of the screw.

FIG. 5 shows a working view of a prior art braking device for a bicycle. As illustrated, when the upper cable 1 is pulled upward by the handle, the lower cable 11 will be also pulled upwards. Hence, the actuating seat 12 will be pulled to turn about pin 13 thereby forcing the shoe 14 to press on the rim 15 of a wheel. As shown in FIG. 6, the braking device includes an actuating seat 12, a shoe 14, and a packing 17 with an inclined surface. When it is desired to adjust the shoe 14, it is only necessary to rotate the packing 17 to an appropriate position. However, it is difficult to control the turning angle of the packing thereby causing much inconvenience in operation.


An apparatus includes a first cell subpack having a plurality of cells arranged in series and a second cell subpack connected in series to the first cell subpack. The second cell subpack includes a plurality of cells arranged in series and at least one cell arranged in parallel with one of the plurality of cells, arranged in series, of the second cell subpack, where the first cell subpack and the second cell subpack use a first voltage rail to provide at least a first voltage level and a second voltage rail to provide a second voltage level, where the first voltage level is different from the second voltage level.

A battery pack may be used to provide power to a mobile device and its various different components or loads. The various different components or loads in a mobile device may have different voltage and/or power requirements. It may be desirable to provide a battery pack having an architecture to meet the different voltage and/or power requirements.


A vehicle park-brake system includes a park brake, a solenoid; a first pressure source; a servo for disengaging the park-brake using the first pressure source, and for disengaging the park-brake using a force produced by the solenoid that actuates first and second pistons; and a second pressure source applied to the servo causing hydraulic pressure to vent from the servo, the pistons to detach mutually, and the servo to engage the park brake.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an apparatus for engaging and disengaging a vehicle's park brake through hydraulic and electrical actuation rather than by mechanical actuation by the vehicle operator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In an automatic transmission that employs a shift-by-wire (SBW) control Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive ranges of the transmission are engaged and disengaged under electrical control. SWB systems have begun to replace the conventional shifter cable, which is used in automatic transmissions to control the park pawl and a hydraulic manual valve that feeds pressure to clutches that distinguishes the Neutral range from the Reverse and Drive ranges.
SBW systems generally are of two types: (i) electromechanical having redundant hardware and supplemental power, and (ii) electro-hydraulic having a redundant electro-mechanical path. Electro-hydraulic SBW systems allow for reduced cost, but generally do not cover unintended loss of the Park function with single point failures.

Shift-by-wire system for actuating a vehicle park brake


A system and method for operating an internal combustion engine include injecting fuel through a plurality of fuel jets of a fuel injector directly into a corresponding cylinder with at least a first plurality jets oriented to primarily support operation in a stratified mode and a second plurality of jets oriented to primarily support operation in a homogeneous mode. The first plurality of jets is oriented to spray fuel generally downward toward the piston bowl and the second plurality of jets is oriented to spray fuel generally across the cylinder toward the exhaust valves. The spray jets reduce or eliminate valve, liner, and piston wetting while providing good mixing in homogeneous mode and good combustion stability for light stratified charge during cold starts to achieve desired targets for feedgas emissions and combustion efficiency.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to fuel injection for direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engines.
2. Background Art
Direct-injection spark-ignition (DISI) internal combustion engines have been developed to reduce fuel consumption and feedgas emissions of gasoline engines. DISI combustion technologies can generally be classified as either homogeneous charge or stratified charge systems. In homogeneous charge systems, the engine operates only in the homogeneous mode where the air-fuel mixture of the charge in the combustion chamber is generally well-mixed or homogeneous throughout the chamber. Stratified charge combustion systems operate in a stratified mode with layers or strata of richer air/fuel ratio near the spark plug and progressively leaner layers below under certain operating conditions, such as low to medium load and low to medium engine speed, for example, while operating in a homogeneous mode otherwise. Systems designed for homogeneous mode operation generally use an injector having an evenly distributed fuel spray that can mix well with air to create a homogeneous charge. Systems designed for stratified charge mode operation require the richer fuel-air mixture in the region of the spark plug gap location and generally use an injector having jets closely arranged to form a suitable fuel cloud around the spark plug. Injector spray patterns should also provide stable combustion for cold starting and minimize liquid fuel contacting the cylinder wall, valves, and spark plug to prevent fouling and/or corrosion and to properly control feedgas emissions. To operate in the homogeneous mode, stratified charge systems may require design compromises or additional devices such as a variable charge motion control device or air assisted injection to achieve sufficient charge homogeneity. These design compromises may increase complexity and associated cost and may lower the efficiency of stratified mode operation.

Fuel injector spray pattern for direct injection spark ignition engines


Digital signage techniques are disclosed that utilize streaming technology to deliver digital signage content to digital signage display devices. In some examples, a method may include rendering a digital signage content frame by frame, capturing an image of each rendered frame, transforming the captured image of each rendered frame into a video frame of a video stream, and delivering the video stream to at least one remote display device. The captured image may be an image of a portion of the rendered frame. The display devices that receive the video stream may render the video stream using a streaming media player.

Digital signage is a marketing technique that utilizes display devices to deliver, in real-time, customized digital signage content, such as digital images, videos, animations, web pages, multi-media, text, audio, and the like. Digital signage can be found in public spaces, transportation systems, retail locations, hotels, restaurants, and sides of buildings, to name a few examples, to deliver the digital content. Digital signage can be used in a wide range of applications, such as targeting advertising and promotion, public communication, internal communication, product communication, brand awareness, wayfinding, and influencing customer behavior. Digital signage can be provided using a standalone, on-premise solution (e.g., an on-premise server) or a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution (e.g., a cloud server). In both solutions, a digital signage system, either on premise or in the cloud, delivers the digital signage content to the display devices, which in turn displays the digital signage content.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. The aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.


An electric power converter, electric power conversion system and method that, without using a DC-DC converter, uses and allots the electric power of plural power sources while reducing the volume and losses. At least one phase of the motor is connected to plural power sources and generates and synthesizes pulses from output voltages of plural power sources so as to drive the multi-phase AC motor. A different phase of the motor is connected to one DC power source and generates pulses from the output voltage of the power source so as to generate a driving voltage for the multi-phase AC motor. This arrangement allows use/allotment of the power of plural power sources with a reduced number of semiconductor components.

One known electric power converter is described in an "Electric power converter, and 2-power source system vehicle carrying same" in Japanese Kokai Patent Application No. 2006-25518. In this power converter, electric power is fed from plural power sources so as to drive a motor at high efficiency.
In the motor driving system described therein, plural power sources are connected in parallel to form a power source system. By feeding electric power to the motor from three or more potentials including a common potential, it is possible to drive the motor at any electric power allotment. In this way, it is possible to feed driving electric power to the motor from plural power sources simultaneously without having a DC-DC converter. As a result, it is possible to suppress loss and to realize high energy efficiency.