Disclosed are on-chip global electrical signaling systems and methods employing differential current-mode sensing having reduced delay and energy dissipation compared to conventional inverter repeaters. The present inventions can be used for point-to-point connections as well as N-to-1 connections.

Typically, integrated-circuit interconnects are categorized according to their length, generally falling within three categories: (1) local interconnects that connect gates within a block, (2) semi-global interconnects that connect blocks (e.g., datapath blocks to a register file), and (3) global interconnects that connect functional units together such as a processor core with the L2 cache, the bus interface, or another processor core in a chip multiprocessor. As CMOS processes scale, local interconnect length, and to a lesser extent semi-global interconnect length, scales as well. However, global interconnects tend to become longer because maximum die sizes are increasing. Global interconnect capacitance increases since capacitance per unit length remains constant or only slightly decreases as processes scale. When coupled with resistance increases per unit length, the result is slower absolute global data transfer, and much slower transfer relative to increasing system clock frequencies. Thus scaling results in both more fCV2 power and increased latency in the global interconnects. A solution that addresses both of these problems is needed.

Systems and methods for transmitting signals across integrated circuit chips


An asphalt coated structural article comprises a substrate having an ionic charge coated on one side with a layer of asphaltic material and coated on the other side with a coating having essentially the same ionic charge as the substrate. The present invention is a waterproofing barrier which may be used as a roofing underlayment for concrete files or to waterproof the basement walls of a building structure.

This invention relates to an asphalt coated structural article. The structural article, which comprises a substrate having an ionic charge is coated on one side with a non-asphaltic coating having essentially the same ionic charge and is coated on the other side with a layer of asphaltic material. The asphalt coated structural article may be used as a waterproofing barrier and specifically as a roofing underlayment for concrete tiles. The asphalt coated structural article may also be useful in other roof assemblies. The present invention provides a temporary roof cover that achieves a class C rating for protection against moderate to severe exposure to fire. When used as a roofing underlayment for concrete tiles, the present invention achieves a class B or better (Class A) rating for protection against moderate to severe exposure to fire.
Roofing underlayment is applied to the deck of a roof before the application of roofing shingles or other roofing material primarily to shield the roof deck from moisture, both during assembly and after roof installation. Underlayment also helps reduce xe2x80x9cpicture framingxe2x80x9d in which the outline of deck panels caused by irregularities in the deck surface may be visible through the roofing material applied to the roof deck. Further, the roofing underlayment should be a key component of a fire rated roof assembly. The underlayment structure should assist in preventing flaming of the underside of the deck when exposed to fire on top of the roof covering assembly. Thus, the benefits of the underlayment in the roof assembly are to provide additional water resistance and fire resistance, and to provide uniformity of the appearance of the roof surface.
Conventional roofing underlayment typically comprises a dry cellulosic felt that can be impregnated or saturated with an organic material such as asphalt. When used as an underlayment, felt typically does not provide a completely flat surface, but has wrinkles, undulations, and distortions. It may also distort under high moisture conditions. Saturated organic felt underlayment has poor fire resistance and when burned, disintegrates.
Traditional underlayments are vulnerable to damage before the protective roofing material is layed down. For example, traditional underlayments can be damaged by workers walking on the underlayment or by items dropped on the underlayment. Ripped or torn underlayment will not serve as an effective waterproofing barrier and must be patched before the roofing material can be layed down.
In addition, conventional asphalt underlayments can stain certain roofing materials, such as concrete tiles or shingles. The asphalt from the underlayment migrates upward from the underlayment and into the concrete tile, thereby staining the tile.
The roofing underlayment should also help protect a roof deck from flaming, even when noncombustible roofing materials are employed as the visible roof covering. For instance, metal roofing materials, either standing seam or shingles, are typically considered noncombustible materials. However, for noncombustible metal roof coverings to achieve a Class A fire resistance rating, a xc2xd inch layer of gypsum board or a layer of xc2xc inch Dens-Deck board is usually required on top of the roof deck beneath the saturated felt underlayment that is under the metal roof covering. That is because the heat of a fire burning on top of roofing materials, including noncombustible metal roof coverings, passes through the material to the underlayment which is then susceptible to burning and disintegration. Thus, it has heretofore been deemed necessary to place gypsum board or Dens-Deck board on a roof deck beneath felt underlayment and non-combustible metal roofing materials, even though such boards raise the cost of the roofing materials and their application, and despite the facts that they are heavy, difficult to handle, require covering to protect from rain, and are slippery on steep slopes; because otherwise, a Class A fire resistance rating cannot be achieved.
There is a need for a sturdy, water-resistant and fire-resistant roofing underlayment system that does not tend to wrinkle or distort when layed down and that is resistant to tearing or ripping. There is also a need for a roofing underlayment that does not tend to stain concrete tiles.
Other parts of a building structure besides the roof often require a waterproofing barrier. For example, subterranean concrete walls often require a waterproofing barrier to prevent water seepage into the basement. Concrete walls are traditionally waterproofed by spraying or coating the walls with a waterproof substance or by attaching a waterproof fabric to the wall. However, these waterproofing barriers must be protected from damage, particularly required when the waterproofing barrier is applied to the outside of a subterranean wall. For example, a waterproofing barrier applied to the outside of a subterranean wall can be damaged by rocks or other materials in the dirt that adjoins the outside wall.
One conventional method of protecting the waterproofing barrier from damage involves overlaying a protecting board, such as a foam board, over the waterproof barrier. This added step of adding a protecting layer increases the time and expense of waterproofing. Thus, there has long been a need for an article that can be used as a waterproofing barrier without the need to apply an additional protecting layer.
The present invention involves an asphalt coated structural article which comprises a substrate having an ionic charge that is coated on one side with a non-asphaltic coating having essentially the same ionic charge as the substrate and that is coated on the other side with an asphaltic material.
The present invention may be utilized as a waterproofing barrier that does not require the application of an additional layer to protect the waterproof barrier from damage.
Specifically, the present invention is useful in roof assemblies. The asphalt coated structural article provides a temporary roof cover that achieves a class C rating for protection against moderate to severe exposure to fire. The asphalt coated structural article, when used as a roofing underlayment for concrete tiles results in a class B or better (Class A) rating for protection for the roofing materials against moderate to severe exposure to fire, without the use of intermediate barriers such as gypsum or other non-combustible decking.
In addition, the present invention is not difficult to handle since it is lighter in weight than other roofing underlayment systems, is not slippery on steep slopes and is not as costly as gypsum or non-combustible decking. The present invention provides a durable roof covering that is resistant to ripping or tearing. The present invention tends not to wrinkle, undulate or distort when applied to roofing or walls as compared to traditional felt underlayments. The present invention may be used with a variety of roof assemblies but most particularly as an underlayment for thin concrete roofing tiles, enabling the roof to achieve a class A fire rating.
The applicants have invented an asphalt coated structural article which comprises a substrate having an ionic charge that is coated on one side with a coating having essentially the same ionic charge as the substrate and that is coated on the other side with an asphaltic material.
The asphalt covering may be any type of asphaltic material that can act as a water barrier. Examples of asphalt that can be used include oxidized, unoxidized, rubberized, filled and unfilled, virtually any asphaltic compound which can be coated, mopped or sprayed. In a preferred embodiment, the asphalt may also serve as an adhesive. One example of an adhesive asphalt is peel-and-stick asphalt, also known as ice and snow shield, which is sold by numerous manufacturers including Koppers Industries, GAF Materials Corp., and G. S. Roofing. Peel-and-stick asphalt is traditionally a styrene-butadiene-styrene (xe2x80x9cSBSxe2x80x9d) modified very low viscosity asphalt that is typically employed with a release paper on one side of the asphalt. When the paper has been removed, or peeled off, the asphalt is exposed and can be used as an adhesive.
The asphalt can be applied to the coated structural article in a number of ways, including the traditional methods used to apply asphalt to roofing materials. For example, the asphalt can be applied by conventional roller coaters, curtain coaters, spray coaters, and extrusion coaters.
The coating of the structural article consists essentially of a filler material and a binder material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,257, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, teaches that by coating the substrate with a coating having essentially the same ionic charge, a zero bleed through product is made while using only two major ingredients in the coating. By producing a coating having essentially the same ionic charge as the substrate, a zero bleed through product may be produced having a low binder content and no viscosity modifiers.
The coated substrate of the structural article may be any suitable reinforcement material capable of withstanding high temperatures such as glass fibers, polyester fibers, cellulosic fibers, asbestos, steel fibers, alumina fibers, ceramic fibers, nylon fibers, graphite fibers, wool fibers, boron fibers, carbon fibers, jute fibers, polyolefin fibers, polystyrene fibers, acrylic fibers, phenol-formaldehyde resin fibers, aromatic and aliphatic polyamide fibers, polyacrylamide fibers, or mixtures thereof which may include bicomponent or multicomponent fibers.
The filler employed in the coating of the structural article may be class F fly ash, class C fly ash or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the filler is class F fly ash wherein 90% to 95% by weight of the fly ash is aluminosilicate. Such a fly ash, known as Alsil O4TR, is produced by ISG Industries, of Kennesaw, Georgia. Alternatively, the filler may be charged calcium carbonate or ceramic microspheres, or a blend of fly ash and calcium carbonate, or a blend of fly ash, calcium carbonate and ceramic microspheres.
The table below provides, in percentages, some of the combinations of calcium carbonate, fly ash and ceramic microspheres which may be utilized as the filler component in the coating:
The microspheres may be a 50/50 ratio of 3M""s W1012 microspheres and 3M""s smaller diameter G200 microspheres. Although the table shows possible combinations of calcium carbonate, fly ash and ceramic microspheres in the filler component of the coating, it is believed that any combination of these materials may be employed.
The coating is prepared by using a binder material such as a high performance heat-reactive acrylic latex polymer to bond the filler materials together and to bond the filler to the substrate. Such a binder material is Hycar 2679 acrylic latex polymer supplied by B. F. Goodrich Company of Cleveland, Ohio. It is believed, however, that any linear polymer, linear copolymer or branched polymer may be useful in preparing the coating. Possible binder materials include butyl rubber latex, SBR latex, neoprene latex, polyvinyl alcohol emulsion, SBS latex, water based polyurethane emulsions and elastomers, vinyl chloride copolymers, nitrile rubbers and polyvinyl acetate copolymers.
In a preferred embodiment, the coating may comprise nearly 85% by weight of the structural article prior to the application of the asphalt coating. In that embodiment, approximately from 84% to 96% by weight may be filler and the remainder may be the acrylic latex binder. The filler may be approximately 50% fly ash and 50% calcium carbonate. The substrate may comprise about 15% by weight of the structural article. Glass fibers may comprise approximately 12% by weight of the article and a binder material may comprise about 3% by weight of the article. The binder which bonds together the glass fibers may be from 99% to 75% (preferably 98% to 94%) by weight urea formaldehyde and from 1% to 25% (preferably 2% to 6%) by weight standard acrylic latex.
The substrate may be coated with the non-asphaltic coating by air spraying, dip coating, knife coating, roll coating or film application such as lamination/heat pressing. The coating may be bonded to the substrate by chemical bonding, mechanical bonding and/or thermal bonding. Mechanical bonding may be achieved by force feeding the coating onto the substrate with a knife.
Structural articles made in accordance with this invention may be of any shape and may be used in a variety of manners, including use as a waterproofing barrier and specifically as a roofing underlayment. Preferably, the asphalt coated structural article is planar in shape. The substrate is coated on one side with the non-asphaltic coating and is coated on the other side with asphalt.
The structural article may be coated with an additional water repellent material. Two such water repellent materials are Aurapel330R and Aurapel 391 available from the Auralux Corporation of Norwich, Conn. It is believed that wax emulsions, oil emulsions, silicone emulsions, polyolefin emulsions and surfonyls as well as other similar performing products may also be suitable water repellent materials. Structural articles made in accordance with the invention may be coated with an algaecide such as zinc powder, copper oxide powder or the herbicides Atrazine available from e.g. Ribelin Industries or Diuron available from e.g. Olin Corporation, an antifungal material such as Micro-Chek 11P, an antibacterial material such as Micro-Chek 11-S-160, a surface friction agent such as Byk-375, a flame retardant material such as ATH (aluminum trihydrate) available from e.g. AkzoChemicals and antimony oxide available from e.g. Laurel Industries and/or a coloring dye such as T-1133A and iron oxide red pigments, and other products which can impart specific surface functions. The Micro-Chek products are available from the FerroCorporation of Walton Hills, Ohio. Byk-375 may be obtained from Wacker Silicone Corporation of Adrian, Mich. and T-1133A is sold by Abco Enterprises Inc. of Allegan, Mich. The additional coatings of, e.g. water repellent material, antifungal material, antibacterial material, etc., may be applied to either side of the structural article. For example, the additional components can be incorporated into the non-asphaltic coating that is coated on one side of the substrate. Alternatively, the additional coatings may be applied as a separate coating either before or after, but preferably after, the asphaltic covering is applied.
The substrate in the article may be a nonwoven fiberglass mat which is desirable because it is light in weight. Fiberglass mats are also preferred as substrates because of their fire resistant nature, their resistance to moisture damage, their excellent dimensional stability, their resistance to curl with temperature changes, their resistance to rot and decay, and their ability to accept organic coatings.
The present invention provides a water resistant, sturdy article that is also resistant to tearing and ripping. The present invention can be installed on a roof deck and provide a sturdy surface on which workers can walk. In addition, items such as roofing materials, can be temporarily stored on the present invention before installation. In addition, the present invention is resistant to damage often caused by dropped tools, broken tiles, heavy foot traffic and crushed burning cigarettes.
The present invention can provide a temporary roof covering that achieves a Class C rating for protection against moderate to severe exposure to fire. The asphalt coated structural article may be used as a roof covering for up to six months. The asphalt coated structural article, when used as a roofing underlayment, results in a class B or better (Class A) rating for protection against moderate to severe exposure to fire when used as an underlayment for thin concrete tiles. This is because in the applicants"" underlayment system, the coated structural article is comprised mainly of nonflammable filler coating. Additionally, the mat which is coated by that filled coating is also nonflammable. Thus, the present invention provides a novel roofing underlayment system which is comprised of only one layer of an asphalt coated structural article. The invention allows roofing assemblies to achieve Class A, B, or C fire ratings for concrete tiled roofs without the use of intermediate barriers such as gypsum or other non-combustible decking.
In accordance with the invention, a roofing underlayment system is installed using one layer of the asphalt coated structural article. In a preferred embodiment, the coated structural article may be a coated fiberglass substrate made according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,257. In application to the roof deck, the composite underlayment is applied with the asphalt layer adjacent to the deck.
The present invention may be also utilized as a waterproofing barrier on parts of a structure other than a roof. For example, the present invention can be used as a waterproofing barrier on walls. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is utilized as a waterproofing barrier on subterranean concrete walls. One advantage of the present invention is that it provides a waterproof barrier that does not require the application of an additional layer, such as a foam board, to protect the waterproof barrier from damage. In a preferred embodiment, the asphalt layer is an adhesive asphalt, such as Peel and Stick asphalt. In this preferred embodiment, the asphalt coated structural article can be applied directly to the wall without the use of an additional adhesive.


A drill press comprises a hollow pillar with a base, a holder for a drill slidably mounted on the pillar and a clamp integral to the pillar for clamping the base to a work piece so that the drill is guided to the work piece. The clamp is a G clamp with a jaw held by an arm which engages a screw thread shaft housed in the pillar so that rotating the shaft raises and lowers the arm and the jaw.

It should be noted that reference to the prior art herein is not to be taken as an acknowledgement that such prior art constitutes common general knowledge in the art.
Drill presses are normally permanently and rigidly mounted on a bench so that the work piece to be drilled has to be taken to the bench. Accordingly they are of no use when the work piece is too large to fit on the bench or it is not convenient to transport it to the bench. For this reason there have been a number of attempts at devising a portable drill press which can be used on site.
US 20030143041 teaches a rack bar with a brace attached at one end and a pinion slide assembly engaged with the rack bar such that the pinion is in rotational engagement with the rack. A hand drill is mounted on a bracket attached to the pinion slide assembly and the brace is held or clamped to the work piece.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,065 teaches a similar device which is also held or clamped to the work piece being drilled while a rack and pinion assembly urge a drill mounted on the pinion towards the work piece. A collar separate from the drill mount is urged by operation of a lever against the upper end of the drill mount to move the drill toward the base.
However neither of these prior art devices operate in the manner of a drill press which is permanently mounted on a bench since they have to be held against the work piece by the operator or a separate clamp has to be used.
This does not allow for accuracy nor ease of drilling especially when the work piece has to be addressed from below as in the case of roof beams.
Clearly it would be advantageous if a portable drill press could be devised that helped to at least ameliorate some of the shortcomings described above. In particular it would be advantageous if a portable drill press could be devised which improves the ease and accuracy of drilling or at least provides a useful alternative to the prior art devices.


An airbag device is provided in which the airbag is made by folding an airbag having a left airbag section and a right airbag section and wrapping the folded airbag by a shape-retaining sheet. In one form, an airbag includes a left airbag section and a right airbag section that are inflated on the left and right, respectively, in front of a passenger, and a base chamber that communicates base ends of the airbag sections with each other. The airbag is folded so as to have reduced vertical and longitudinal widths, and is wrapped by a shape-retaining sheet. An opening is provided in the shape-retaining sheet so as to face a lateral face of a folded body of the airbag on the passenger side.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-268903 discloses an airbag for receiving a passenger at the time of a vehicle collision and a folding method thereof in which the airbag has a left airbag section and a right airbag section that are inflated on the right and left, respectively, in front of a passenger and is adapted to be inflated by an inflator common to the airbag sections. In the airbag disclosed in the publication, the left airbag section and the right airbag section are not connected to each other, and middle portions of the airbag sections in the fore-and-aft direction thereof are connected by a connecting part.
In the above publication, portions of the airbag sections closer to their leading ends than the connecting part are folded along vertical folding lines, respectively, so as to be primary folded bodies, and then, the primary folded bodies are folded to be smaller.
This airbag is folded and accommodated within a case and covered with a cover. When the inflator (gas generator) begins to discharge gas at the time of a vehicle collision, the airbag is inflated toward the front of a passenger while pushing the cover open.


An apparatus includes a flexible lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, an expandable electrode coupled proximate the distal end, the expandable electrode having an expanded diameter dimensioned to abut a wall of a pulmonary artery, and an implantable pulse generator electrically coupled to the expandable electrode. The expandable electrode includes a plurality of electrode zones. The implantable pulse generator is adapted to deliver a baroreflex stimulation signal to a baroreceptor in the pulmonary artery via the electrode.

Medical leads have a distal end having one or more electrodes and a proximal end having a terminal that is coupled to a pulse generator. Electrical therapy is delivered from the pulse generator to the body via the electrode.
Hypertension is a cause of heart disease and other related cardiac co-morbidities. Hypertension occurs when blood vessels constrict. As a result, the heart works harder to maintain flow at a higher blood pressure, which can contribute to heart failure. Many patients who suffer from hypertension do not respond to treatment, such as treatments related to lifestyle changes and hypertension drugs.
A pressoreceptive region is capable of sensing changes in pressure, such as changes in blood pressure. Pressoreceptor regions are referred to herein as baroreceptors, which generally include any sensors of pressure changes. For example, baroreceptors include afferent nerves and further include sensory nerve endings that are sensitive to the stretching of the wall that results from increased blood pressure from within, and function as the receptor of a central reflex mechanism that tends to reduce the pressure. Baroreflex functions as a negative feedback system, and relates to a reflex mechanism triggered by stimulation of a baroreceptor. Increased pressure stretches blood vessels, which in turn activate baroreceptors in the vessel walls. Activation of baroreceptors naturally occurs through internal pressure and stretching of the arterial wall, causing baroreflex inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and a reduction in systemic arterial pressure. An increase in baroreceptor activity induces a reduction of SNA, which reduces blood pressure by decreasing peripheral vascular resistance.
The general concept of stimulating afferent nerve trunks leading from baroreceptors is known. For example, direct electrical stimulation has been applied to the vagal nerve and carotid sinus using nerve cuffs. Research has indicated that electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus nerve can result in reduction of experimental hypertension, and that direct electrical stimulation to the pressoreceptive regions of the carotid sinus itself brings about reflex reduction in experimental hypertension.
What is needed is a less invasive technique for providing long-term electrical stimulation of the baroreflex.

Lead for stimulating the baroreceptors in the pulmonary artery


A diesel engine system includes a diesel engine having a first exhaust segment and a second exhaust segment. A filter filters exhaust gas from the first and second exhaust segments. A flow control valve selectively re-circulates a portion of exhaust from the first exhaust segment back into the diesel engine. An injector system injects fuel into exhaust flowing through the second exhaust segment. The fuel is combusted to regenerate the filter.

Diesel engines have higher efficiency than gasoline engines due to the increased compression ratio of the diesel combustion process and the higher energy density of diesel fuel. As a result, a diesel engine provides improved gas mileage than an equivalently sized gasoline engine.
The diesel combustion cycle produces particulates that are typically filtered from the exhaust gases. A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is usually disposed along the exhaust stream to filter the diesel particulates from the exhaust. Over time, however, the DPF becomes full and must be regenerated to remove the trapped diesel particulates. During regeneration, the diesel particulates are burned within the DPF to enable the DPF to continue its filtering function.
One traditional regeneration method injects diesel fuel into the cylinder after the main combustion event. The post-combustion injected fuel is expelled from the engine with the exhaust gases and is combusted over catalysts placed in the exhaust stream. The heat released during the fuel combustion on the catalysts increases the exhaust temperature, which burns the trapped soot particles in the DPF. This approach utilizes the common rail fuel injection system and does not require additional fuel injection hardware.
Engine emissions are typically reduced by lowering cylinder temperatures, which occur when ignition timing is retarded. Retarding ignition timing, however, triggers the combustion process at a non-optimal point. As a result, engine efficiency, fuel economy and/or performance are reduced.
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is another, more preferable method for reducing engine emissions. EGR involves re-circulating exhaust gases back into the cylinders, which limits the amount of oxygen available for combustion and lowers cylinder temperatures. EGR enables ignition timing to remain at an optimum point, which improves fuel economy and/or performance.
Traditionally, the EGR system must be disabled during DPF regeneration to prevent the post-injected fuel from being re-circulated into the engine. The re-circulation of the post injection fuel may damage the engine and/or the EGR system. Because the EGR system is disabled during DPF regeneration, the engine emission rates may increase during DPF regeneration.

Low emission diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration


A system and method for estimating the traffic rates of large traffic sources is provided. A class of a most recently selected address is compared to the contents of a register. If the class is the same as the contents of the register, a first counter is incremented; otherwise, the class is loaded into the register and the first counter is initialized. A class of a new most recently selected address is then obtained and the above process repeated. If the count of the first counter reaches a predetermined threshold, a threshold counter associated with the class is incremented and the first counter and register are reset. A different threshold counter is associated with each different class. After a predetermined time period, the traffic rate for a class may be computed from the count of the threshold counter associated with the class.

This invention relates to estimating traffic rates, and more particularly to estimating the traffic rates of large traffic sources.
Within the long-distance telephone industry, an ever present need exists to accurately track telephone call traffic rates (hereinafter "traffic rates"). A knowledge of accurate traffic rates allows a network operations center or other monitoring facility to balance calling loads among different databases within a network so that network overloading may be reduced. Reduced network overloading in turn improves overall network performance as network overloading not only degrades throughput at a specific network element, but also stresses the signaling network, databases, switches, and trunking network all at the same time.
A network operations center may, for instance, use traffic rate information to predict/manage mass calling events. A mass calling event occurs when a single customer generates abnormally high network traffic (such as during a radio or television promotion) which threatens to overload the network. Accurate and timely traffic rate estimates assist a network operations center in predicting and eradicating these types of overloads through rapid isolation of the traffic source responsible for the mass calling event.
Traffic rate information may also be used for general network overload management. Typically a list of the largest traffic sources in a network (e.g., the traffic sources which need controlling during a network overload) is compiled so that overloads may be rapidly eliminated by rerouting the traffic sources on the list. Accurate traffic rate information ensures that only the proper (e.g., largest) sources are listed and controlled during an overload condition.
Traffic rate information is also required for other network management functions. For example, during database partitioning, decisions must be made regarding which traffic sources can share databases without creating overload conditions. Accurate traffic rate information improves these type of resource allotment decisions.
Traffic rate measurements are typically performed at several locations within a telephone network, and are categorized by a "class" associated with each telephone number (i.e., a particular 800 number, database, or other attribute associated with the telephone number, including the telephone number itself). Conventional methods for traffic rate estimation sample only a small percentage (e.g., 5%) of network telephone calls. Upon sampling a dialed telephone number, a table is searched to identify whether the class associated with the sampled telephone number has been previously identified. If so, a count associated with the class is incremented; otherwise the class is added to the table. Based on the count for each class within the table during a known time period, an estimation of the traffic rate for each class may be determined.
Because the table must be searched and updated for every telephone number sampled, such estimation schemes are real-time intensive, requiring substantial computing resources. This is the very reason why only a small percentage of network calls are sampled. By sampling infrequently, the number of database searches required during traffic rate estimation is reduced. Infrequent sampling, however, also reduces estimation accuracy unless a large number of samples are taken (which further consumes time and processing power). Accuracy must therefore be balanced with speed in these type of sampling configurations.
Furthermore, because of the random nature of such sampling, statistics are maintained on small traffic sources (which have little impact on network management decisions) as well as on large traffic sources (which govern nearly all network management decisions). This greatly increases the size of the database used to store class statistics, and the number of classes which must be searched following each sampling.
A need therefore exists for a system and method for accurately estimating traffic rates without requiring extensive real-time database searching. Such a system and method will improve telephone network performance by allowing a network operations center to quickly and accurately balance calling loads among different databases and to make better informed network management decisions. More generally, such a system and method can be employed for traffic rate estimation during any addressing event (e.g., for determining computer network traffic rates, data bus traffic rates, and the like).
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved system and method for estimating traffic rates.

System and method for estimating traffic rates


A door lock assembly has a slide pin (9) slidably supported to an door opening lever (4), a first oblong hole (52) formed in a locking lever (5) and inserting the slide pin (9), and a window like opening (31) formed in the lift lever (3), inserting the slide pin (9) and provided with a projection (31a) capable of restricting a slide motion of the slide pin (9), wherein a position of the slide pin (9) with respect to the opening (31) is changed in correspondence to an operation of the door opening lever (4) and the locking lever (5), thereby engaging and disengaging the pawl (7) with the latch (6), and engaging and disengaging a connection between the door opening lever (4) with the lift lever (3).

The present invention relates to a door lock assembly for a vehicle with a key less door lock mechanism which can lock a vehicle door by an operation of a lock knob without a key operation, and can perform an operation of the lock knob only at a time of performing an opening operation of the door.
An example of a door lock assembly of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 7-54528. This is constructed such as to include a door opening lever which can be associated with a lift lever so as to engage and disengage a pawl with a latch and a locking lever for establishing and releasing a lock state of the door.
In this conventional assembly, an opening is formed in the door opening lever and a oblong hole is also formed in the lift lever, and a slide pin inserting the opening and the oblong hole is connected to the locking lever through the link, so that a position of the slide pin with respect to the opening is changed in accordance with the operation of the door opening lever and the locking lever, thereby engaging and disengaging the pawl and the latch with each other and engaging and disengaging the connection between the door opening lever and the lift lever.
However, in accordance with the conventional assembly mentioned above, since the slide pin is supported to the locking lever, a link for connecting the slide pin and the locking lever is required in order to allow the slide pin to move in correspondence to the rotational operation of the door opening lever. Accordingly, a number of the parts are increased, so that it is disadvantageous in cost. Further, it is necessary to dispose the connecting portion between the locking lever and the link on a pivot of the door opening lever and the lift lever, so that it is disadvantageous in saving space.

Door lock assembly for automotive vehicles


An airbag device for motor vehicle, includes: an inflator arranged in an instrument panel in front of a front passenger seat and is capable of ejecting gas; a first airbag connected to the inflator at a base end side thereof and has a gas inflow hole through which gas can be flowed, the first airbag being for the front passenger seat; and a second airbag arranged on the first airbag at a side face portion close to a center in the vehicle width direction, the second airbag being adapted to communicate with the first airbag through first and second communication portions. The first communication portion is arranged proximal to the inflator than the second communication portion arranged proximal to the occupant side end. The first communication portion and the second airbag are communicated via a communication passageway, and the second communication portion and the second airbag are communicated directly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an airbag device for motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional airbag device for motor vehicle, it has been known as the related art that there is provided the one that is made of: an airbag for front passenger seat, which is arranged so as to be able to protect a behavior to a front side of an occupant who sits down on the front passenger seat of an instrument panel; and a center side airbag, which is arranged so as to be able to protect a behavior to a transverse center side, in other words, in an oblique direction of an occupant who sits down on the front passenger seat similarly, and to protect a behavior to a center of an occupant who sits down on a transverse center side seat (indicating a seat existing between a driver seat and the front passenger seat) (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-280845). Between the center side airbag and the airbag for front passenger seat of the airbag device, a partitioning portion is provided to partition these airbags. An inflator having been provided on the instrument panel is connected to the center side airbag, and in the partitioning portion, a communication hole adapted to cause the airbag for front passenger seat and the center side airbag to communicate with each other is opened, and in a side part of the airbag for front passenger seat, an exhaust hole adapted to communicate with the outside is opened.
However, the related art is directed to a structure in which the center side airbag is inflated by gas that is ejected from the inflator and subsequently the airbag for front passenger seat starts its inflation via the communication hole; and therefore, owing to a characterizing feature that the flow of the gas has linearity, it becomes difficult for the gas to efficiently flow into the airbag for front passenger seat, and the inflation and expansion speed of the airbag for front passenger seat is prone to become slow.


A process for the simultaneous conversion of waste lubricating oil and pyrolysis oil derived from organic waste to produce a synthetic crude oil by means of contacting the combined feed with a hot hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to increase the temperature of the combined feed to vaporize at least a portion of the distillable organic compounds contained therein which is immediately hydrogenated in a hydrogenation reaction zone. The resulting effluent from the hydrogenation reaction zone is then introduced into a hydroprocessing zone to produce higher hydrogen-content hydrocarbons and to remove heterogeneous components such as sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen and halide, for example. The resulting effluent is cooled and partially condensed to produce a gaseous stream containing hydrogen and gaseous water-soluble inorganic compounds and a liquid stream containing hydrocarbon compounds. The gaseous stream is scrubbed to remove the gaseous water-soluble organic compounds and to thereby produce a hydrogen-rich gaseous recycle stream.

There is a steadily increasing demand for technology which is capable of the conversion and recovery of useful products from discarded and unwanted materials such as waste lubricating oil and pyrolysis oil derived from organic waste. With the increased environmental emphasis for the conversion and recycle of unwanted and potentially environmentally damaging organic waste streams, there is an increased need for improved processes to convert organic waste streams to produce synthetic crude oils which may then subsequently be used to produce valuable, finished products such as lube oil blending stocks, petrochemical feedstocks, specialty oils and liquid transportation fuels. Desirable fuels include gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Petrochemical feedstocks include feed to an ethylene plant. For example, during the disposal or recycle of potentially harmful organic waste streams or non-biodegradable organic waste streams, an important step in the total solution to the problem is to produce an organic stream or hydrocarbon which facilitates the ultimate resolution to produce product streams which may subsequently be handled in an environmentally acceptable manner. Therefore, those skilled in the art have sought to find feasible and economical techniques to convert waste materials such as spent lubricating oil and pyrolysis oil derived from organic waste to produce synthetic crude oils containing hydrocarbonaceous compounds.

Process for the simultaneous conversion of waste lubricating oil and pyrolysis oil derived from organic waste to produce a synthetic crude oil


Provided are novel compounds that bind to FKBP12 or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as new therapeutics useful in the prevention or treatment of alopecia which comprise those compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Specifically, compounds represented by formula (1)

Alopecia manifests itself in various types including male pattern alopecia, alopecia senilis, alopecia areata, and alopecia in postmenopausal women. While alopecia is not life-threatening in many cases, the disease is cosmetically distressing and often involves mental pain; under the circumstances, effective agents for preventing or treating alopecia are desired.
Hairs are born again through three stages, the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases (hair cycle). One hair cycle usually takes a period of two to seven years to complete and if something abnormal occurs to shorten this period, hair growth is arrested before reaching maturity. As a consequence, more hairs will fall out to result in a lower hair density or the thickness per hair will decrease. Factors that upset the rhythm of hair cycle include androgens such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, radiation, medicaments such as anticancer drugs, aging, and stress.
Studies using many diverse compounds are being made with a view to creating therapeutics for alopecia, and the immunosuppressant FK506 (tacrolimus), for example, has been reported to have a recognizable hair-development stimulating effect in a plurality of animal models (see Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1.) The action of FK506 has been confirmed in models of alopecia areata which is considered an autoimmune disease (see Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3), as well as in hair development tests using normal mice and models of alopecia medicamentosa (see Non-Patent Documents 4 and 5.) However, due to its immunosuppressing action, FK506 has high risk for side-effects, so there is desired a safer compound that is effective as a therapeutic for alopecia without presenting the immunosuppressing action.
A plurality of compounds that bind to immunophilin FKBP12 (an FK506 binding protein with a molecular weight of 12 kDa) without exerting the immunosuppressing action have recently been found (see Patent Documents 2-10.) Some of those derivatives have been disclosed to show a hair-development stimulating action (see Patent Documents 11 and 12.) Other derivatives, however, have not been reported to show any hair-development stimulating action and much remains unclear about the relationship between the activity of binding to immunophilin FKBP12 and the hair-development stimulating activity. What is more, the reported FKBP12 binding compounds are not disclosed to have the same azole structures as specified in the present invention.

Abstract: [where R1 represents either the following formula (2) or (3)]

Abstract: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided.


A slider having an automatic stopper capable of accommodating a drooping piece of a leaf spring in a front face of a guide post of the slider and protecting it. In a body of the slider, upper and lower blades are connected via the guide post, and a groove portion which is open continuously in a vertical direction is provided at the front face of the guide post is provided. The drooping piece formed by bending an end of the leaf spring of an automatic stop mechanism disposed on a top face of the upper blade is engaged and accommodated within the groove portion and a projecting portion projecting forward is provided at a bottom end of the groove portion. The projecting portion is located below the drooping piece to protect a front end of the drooping piece and formed into a shape preventing a pointed object from being inserted between the drooping piece and the projecting portion, thereby protecting the slider from being destroyed intentionally.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper in which a stop function thereof is activated when a leaf spring having a locking pawl is operated by raising or laying a pull.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventionally known slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper of this type, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-10808 shown in FIG. 6, comprises a projecting piece 26′ provided at a rear of an upper blade 4′ of a body 1′, a pawl hole 20′ provided at a proximal portion thereof, a projecting piece 12′ provided at a front of the upper blade 4′ and a contact portion 14′, with which an engaging tongue piece 24′ of a leaf spring 2′ makes contact, provided in the projecting piece 12′. A groove portion 21′ having an engaging portion is provided in a front face of a guide post 6′, and the leaf spring 2′ has a fallen C shape while a locking pawl 8′ is provided on an end of the leaf spring 2′ and a drooping piece 9′ is provided on the other end. The drooping piece 9′ is provided with an engaging piece which is engaged with the engaging portion, and the engaging tongue piece 24′ is provided at a center of the leaf spring 2′ with being bent. The leaf spring 2′ is engaged with the projecting piece 26′ at the rear of the upper blade 4′ and the engaging portion of the guide post 6′, so that the engaging tongue piece 24′ is always in a pressure contact state with the contact portion 14′.
In the slider with the automatic stopper shown in FIG. 6, the drooping piece 9′ of the leaf spring 2′ is accommodated within the groove portion 21′ formed in the front face of the guide post 6′ and engaged therein. However, because the front end of the drooping piece 9′ accommodated and engaged in the groove portion 21′ is exposed outside, there is a fear that it may catch a fabric of clothing and damage the fabric. Further, there is another fear that the drooping piece 9′ may slip out of the engaging portion. Moreover, there is a fear that a tool having a pointed tip such as an eyeleteer may be inserted in between the front end of the drooping piece 9′ and the groove portion 21′, so as to intentionally destroy the mechanism.

Slider for slide fastener with automatic stopper


In a thin film forming method of the invention, an atmosphere for a base as a thin film forming target is set to a high vacuum of, e.g., 0.01 Torr or less, and a gas of an organometallic compound and an oxidizing gas are introduced onto a base surface heated to about 450xc2x0 C., to form a plurality of crystal nuclei, made of an oxide of a metal constituting the organometallic compound, on the base surface. The atmosphere for the base is then set to a lower vacuum than the first vacuum degree, and the gas of the organometallic compound and the oxidizing gas are subsequently introduced onto the base surface heated to about 45xc2x0 C., to form a film made of the oxide of the metal there. In the above process, in the first step, the vacuum degree is set to a vacuum degree at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on surfaces of different materials at the first temperature, and the plurality of crystal nuclei are formed at a high density so that a crystal grain which is formed by growing a crystal nucleus comes into contact with a crystal grain growing from an adjacent crystal nucleus. In the subsequent step, the temperature for the base is set to less than a temperature at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on the surfaces of the different materials.

The present invention relates to a thin film forming method and, for example, to (Ba, Sr)Ti3 (barium strontium titanate: to be referred to as BST hereinafter) used in, e.g., a semiconductor memory device.
As the semiconductor integrating technique develops rapidly, downsizing and increases in speed and integration degree have been achieved in various types of components constituting a semiconductor integrated device. For example, in the field of semiconductor memory devices, in addition to the issues described above, an increase in capacity has been required, and development in technique is very fast. This will be described using an example. In a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) as one of typical semiconductor memory devices, downsizing and an increase in capacitance per unit area are sought for in a capacitor as one of the main constituent elements. As a dielectric material generally used to form the capacitor of a DRAM, silicon dioxide is generally used from the viewpoint of the semiconductor process. Since silicon dioxide has a dielectric constant of 10 or less and a capacitance per unit area of 4 fF/xcexcm2, it cannot cope with a requirement for an increase in capacitance per unit area. For this reason, recently, BST and the like with a dielectric constant higher than that of silicon dioxide have received a great deal of attention.
The arrangement of the DRAM described above will be briefly described.
FIG. 13 shows some DRAM memory cells formed on an Si substrate 1301. Each DRAM memory cell is constituted by a transistor 1302 and capacitor 1310. The transistor 1302 is connected to the capacitor 1310 through a plug 1303 connected to the drain terminal. The plug 1303 is formed in a contact hole formed in an interlevel insulating film 1304 made of an insulator such as silicon dioxide.
The plug 1303 is made of polysilicon which is doped with an impurity so as to be conductive, and is connected to a storage node 1305 serving as one electrode of the capacitor 1310. The storage node 1305 is formed on the flat interlevel insulating film 1304 and is made of, e.g., a platinum, ruthenium, or ruthenium oxide film. The storage node 1305 is connected to the plug 1303 through a barrier film 1303a made of, e.g., TiN.
A capacitor film 1306 is formed on the interlevel insulating film 1304 including the storage node 1305. A cell plate 1307 is formed on the capacitor film 1306, and forms the capacitor 1310 together with the storage node 1305 and capacitor film 1306. An upper interlevel insulating film 1308 is formed on the capacitor 1310. Although not shown, a word line to be connected to the gate of the transistor 1302, a bit line to be connected to the source terminal, and the like are arranged on the upper interlevel insulating film 1308. As described above, the capacitor film is formed to cover one electrode formed on the transistor through the interlevel insulating film 1304 and serving as a capacitor.
As the requirements needed for this capacitor film serving as a capacitor, first, the capacitor film must have a high dielectric constant. Examples of the material with such a high dielectric constant are compounds containing Ba, Sr, Ti, Pb, Zn, Bi, Ta, or the like. Second, the capacitor film must have a small leakage current.
Even if a material with a high dielectric constant is used, a DRAM of 1 Gbit or more cannot be implemented by a planar capacitor, and it is indispensable to employ a stereoscopic structure, as described above. To form a stereoscopic capacitor, a thin film forming method is required which can form a film with a uniform thickness, composition, and characteristics on the flat portion and side wall of the storage node of the stereoscopic structure and which has a good coverage on a complicated stepped shape.
As a thin film forming technique with the good step coverage, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is available. With CVD, the source of a material for forming a thin film to be formed must be transported onto a substrate in the form of a gas. The most preferable CVD source is the one that takes the form of a gas in room temperature. When a gas is used as the source, it can be controlled well because its supply amount is determined by only the gas flow rate. However, of the elements described above that form a high dielectric or ferroelectric, no one forms a compound which is gaseous at room temperature. Accordingly, when a material with a high dielectric constant is to be formed by CVD, the source is supplied by means of bubbling. More strictly, if the source is a solid source, it is supplied by sublimation.
When the source is to be supplied by bubbling, if the source gas is liquid, supply amount control can be performed more stably. The requirement for the source gas is a high vapor pressure, that is, if possible, it must have a sufficiently high vapor pressure at room temperature or less. However, almost none of the elements described above forms a compound with a sufficiently high vapor pressure, and most of compounds that have some vapor pressure are organometallic compounds.
From the above viewpoint, barium titanate (BaTiO3: BT), strontium titanate (SrTiO3: ST), and BST as a solid solution of BT and ST have received attention as the material of the capacitor film of a DRAM that can be formed with CVD described above.
More specifically, BT and ST are high dielectric constant materials with a high dielectric constant of about 100, and BST is a high dielectric constant material with a high dielectric constant of about 200 to 300, thus satisfying one performance described above which is required for the capacitor film. Barium, strontium, and titanium can form organic compounds, and a BT, ST, or BST thin film can be formed by MO (Metal organic) CVD. This thin film forming method is thermal CVD which forms a metal or compound film at a comparatively low temperature (400xc2x0 C. to 500xc2x0 C.) by using an organometallic compound (MO). In this manner, a BT, ST, or BST thin film can be formed with CVD that provides a good step coverage, and satisfies the second performance described above which is required for the capacitor film.
When forming a BST film by MOCVD, generally, a substrate as a thin film forming target is heated and, e.g., evaporated Ba(thd)2, Sr(thd)2, and Ti(Oxe2x80x94iPr)2(thd)2 are supplied onto the substrate, thus forming a BST film on the substrate. Ba(thd)2 is a barium source, Sr(thd)2 is a strontium source, and Ti(Oxe2x80x94iPr)2(thd)2 is a titanium source.
If the substrate is heated to an excessively high temperature during formation of the BST film described above, the step coverage suffers. When the substrate has a step with an aspect ratio of 3 or more, it is heated to a temperature of 450xc2x0 C. or less in order to set the step coverage to 90% or more. When the temperature is decreased, the film formation rate becomes low. Hence, when forming a BST film, the substrate is heated to about 450xc2x0 C.
When a BST film is to be formed by MOCVD, unless the temperature of the substrate as the thin film forming target becomes 500xc2x0 C. or more, the formed BST film cannot be set in a crystalline state wherein the formed BST film has a high dielectric constant enough use it as a capacitor film. More specifically, when a thin film is formed at a substrate temperature of about 450xc2x0 C. described above, the obtained BST film is in the amorphous state and is thus not appropriate as a capacitor film. Therefore, conventionally, a BST film in a crystalline state, which can be used as a capacitor film, is formed by three-step thin film formation to have good step coverage (reference: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-176826).
First, a thin strontium titanate film (ST film) is formed by using a predetermined MOCVD apparatus at a substrate temperature where desired step coverage can be obtained. Since crystal growth of the ST film occurs on a heterogeneous substrate more easily than a BST film, a comparatively thin initial film in a perovskite state with good crystallizability can be formed.
Second, by using another heating unit, the substrate where the thin ST film is formed is heated by an infrared heating lamp to promote crystallization of the thin ST film, so that a film to be formed on the ST film can be crystallized easily.
Third, by using the MOCVD apparatus again, a BST film in which the amount of Ba is larger than that of Sr is formed on the ST film. The layer of this BST film containing the large amount of Ba supplies Ba to the underlying ST film in the subsequent annealing.
Fourth, a BST film containing Sr and Ba at a rate of 1:1 is formed on the BST film in which the amount of Ba is larger than that of Sr. In this thin film formation, because of the presence of the underlying ST film as a crystal film, the BST film is formed in the crystalline state.
Fifth, by using another heating unit, the substrate where the three films are formed is heated by the infrared heating lamp to promote crystallization of the formed BST film. Simultaneously, Ba is supplied to the lowermost thin ST film, so that the entire structure forms a BST film in the crystalline state which can be entirely used as a capacitor film.
With the above procedures, a BST film can be formed with good step coverage as well as good crystallization.
Conventionally, many steps are required, as described above. Consequently, the system increases in size to increase the cost of the apparatus to be used for thin film formation, leading to a high product unit cost.
The present invention is made in order to solve the problems described above, and has as its principal object to form a crystal film of a metal oxide, e.g., BST, on the surfaces of different types of materials that form steps, with good step coverage while suppressing the cost.
In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, as the first step, an atmosphere is set to a first vacuum degree, and a gas of an organometallic compound and oxygen gas are introduced onto a surface of a base heated to a first temperature, to form a plurality of crystal nuclei, which are made of an oxide of a metal constituting the organometallic compound, on the surface of the base. Subsequently, as the second step, the atmosphere is set to a second vacuum degree lower in vacuum than in the first step, and the gas of the organometallic compound and the oxygen gas are introduced onto the surface of the base heated to a second temperature, to form a crystal thin film made of an oxide of the metal on the surface of the base. In the first step, the first vacuum degree is set to a vacuum degree at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on surfaces of different materials, and the plurality of crystal nuclei are formed at a high density so that a crystal grain which is formed by a crystal nucleus upon growing comes into contact with a crystal grain growing from an adjacent crystal nucleus. In the second step, the second temperature is set to less than a temperature at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on the surfaces of the different materials. In the above two steps, as the organometallic compound, an organic compound of strontium, an organic compound of barium, and an organic compound of titanium are used. Alternatively, as the organometallic compound, the organic compound of titanium and one of the organic compound of strontium and the organic compound of barium are used. In the first step, a gas of the organic compound of titanium, the oxygen gas and one of a gas of the organic compound of strontium and a gas of the organic compound of barium are introduced onto the surface of the base. In the second step, the gas of the organic compound of strontium, the gas of the organic compound of barium, the gas of the organic compound of titanium, and the oxygen gas are introduced onto the surface of the base.
According to the present invention, after the crystal nuclei are formed, a crystal film of a metal oxide such as BST is formed at a temperature providing good step coverage and falling within a temperature range where a metal oxide is not formed by crystal growth on surfaces of different materials.
According to another aspect of the present invention, as the pre-process, a surface of a base as a thin film forming target is exposed to a plasma. After that, as the first step, an atmosphere is set to a first vacuum degree, and a gas of an organometallic compound and oxygen gas are introduced onto the surface of the base heated to a first temperature, to form a plurality of crystal nuclei, which are made of an oxide of a metal constituting the organometallic compound, on the surface of the base. Subsequently, as the second step, the atmosphere is set to a second vacuum degree, and the gas of the organometallic compound and the oxygen gas are introduced onto the surface of the base heated to a second temperature, to form a film made of an oxide of the metal on the surface of the base. In the first step, the first vacuum degree is set to such a vacuum degree at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on the surface of the base, which has been subjected to the pre-process, at the first temperature, and the plurality of crystal nuclei are formed at a high density so that a crystal grain which is formed by growing a crystal nucleus comes into contact with a crystal grain growing from an adjacent crystal nucleus. In the second step, the second temperature is set to less than a temperature at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on surfaces of different materials. In the above process, as the organometallic compound, an organic compound of strontium, an organic compound of barium, and an organic compound of titanium are used. As the organometallic compound, the organic compound of titanium and one of the organic compound of strontium and the organic compound of barium are used. In the first step, a gas of the organic compound of titanium, the oxygen gas and one of a gas of the organic compound of strontium and a gas of the organic compound of barium are introduced onto the surface of the base. In the second step, the gas of the organic compound of strontium, the gas of the organic compound of barium, the gas of the organic compound of titanium, and the oxygen gas are introduced onto the surface of the base.
According to the present invention, after the crystal nuclei are formed, a crystal film of a metal oxide such as BST is formed at a temperature providing good step coverage and falling within a temperature range where a metal oxide is not formed by crystal growth on surfaces of different materials.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, as the first step, an atmosphere is set to a first vacuum degree, and a gas of an organometallic compound and oxygen gas are introduced onto a surface of the base heated to a first temperature, to form a plurality of crystal nuclei, which are made of an oxide of a metal constituting the organometallic compound, on the surface of the base. As the second step, the atmosphere is set to a second vacuum degree, and the gas of the organometallic compound and the oxygen gas are introduced onto the surface of the base heated to a second temperature, to form a film made of the oxide of the metal on the surface of the base. In the first step, the first temperature is set to a temperature at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on surfaces of different materials, and the plurality of crystal nuclei are formed at a high density so that a crystal grain which is formed by growing a crystal nucleus upon comes into contact with a crystal grain growing from an adjacent crystal nucleus. In the second step, the second temperature is set to less than a temperature at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on the surfaces of the different materials. In the above process, as the organometallic compound, an organic compound of strontium, an organic compound of barium, and an organic compound of titanium are used. As the organometallic compound, the organic compound of titanium and one of the organic compound of strontium and the organic compound of barium are used. In the first step, a gas of the organic compound of titanium, the oxygen gas and one of a gas of the organic compound of strontium and a gas of the organic compound of barium are introduced onto the surface of the base. In the second step, the gas of the organic compound of strontium, the gas of the organic compound of barium, the gas of the organic compound of titanium, and the oxygen gas are introduced onto the surface of the base.
According to the present invention, after the crystal nuclei are formed, a crystal film of a metal oxide such as BST is formed at a temperature providing good step coverage and falling within a temperature range where a metal oxide is not formed by crystal growth on surfaces of different materials.
Another aspect of the present invention comprises the first step of setting an atmosphere for a base as a thin film forming target to a predetermined vacuum degree, and introducing a gas of an organometallic compound, an oxidizing gas, and an inert gas onto a surface of the base heated to a first temperature, to form a plurality of crystal nuclei, which are made of an oxide of a metal constituting the organometallic compound, on the surface of the base, and the second step of setting the atmosphere for the base to a predetermined vacuum degree, and introducing the gas of the organometallic compound and the oxidizing gas onto the surface of the base heated to a second temperature, to form a film made of the oxide of the metal on the surface of the base. In the first step, a partial pressure of the organometallic compound on the base is set to a vacuum degree at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on surfaces of different materials at the first temperature, and the plurality of crystal nuclei are formed at a high density so that a crystal grain which is formed by growing a crystal nucleus comes into contact with a crystal grain growing from an adjacent crystal nucleus. In the second step, the second temperature is set to less than a temperature at which the oxide of the metal is formed by crystal growth on the surfaces of the different materials.
According to the present invention, after the crystal nuclei are formed by decreasing the partial pressure of the organometallic compound on the base, a crystal film of a metal oxide such as BST is formed at a temperature providing good step coverage and falling within a temperature range where a metal oxide is not formed by crystal growth on surfaces of different materials.


A carding machine has a number of rollers including a cylinder and having at least one clothed and/or unclothed machine element located opposite the cylinder at a spacing therefrom. The machine may have further elements influencing the carding nip. In order to make possible a carding nip between the cylinder and the clothed and/or unclothed counterpart element that remains constant or virtually constant when heat is generated, the parts influencing the carding nip are so construed that they have thermal expansion characteristics which are such that, when subjected to the heat acting on them in use, the carding nip remains substantially constant.

The invention relates to an apparatus at a carding machine, for example but not exclusively, a carding machine having a cylinder which has a cylindrical, clothed wall surface and at least two radial cylinder ends, and having at least one clothed and/or unclothed machine element located opposite the cylinder clothing at a spacing therefrom and two stationary side screens, on which there are mounted holding devices for work elements, for example sliding bends, stationary carding elements, cylinder coverings, which in use are subjected to heat.
The effective spacing of the tips of a clothing from a machine element located opposite the clothing is called a carding nip. The said machine element can also have a clothing but could, instead, be formed by an encasing segment having a guide surface. The carding nip is decisive for the carding quality. The size (width) of the carding nip is a fundamental machine parameter, which influences both the technology (the fibre processing) and also the running characteristics of the machine. The carding nip is set as narrow as is possible (it is measured in tenths of a millimeter) without running the risk of a "collision" between the work elements. In order to ensure that the fibres are processed evenly, the nip must be as uniform as possible over the entire working width of the machine.
The carding nip is especially influenced, on the one hand, by the machine settings and, on the other hand, by the condition of the clothing. The most important carding nip in a carding machine having a revolving card top is located in the main carding zone, that is to say between the cylinder and the revolving card top unit. At least one of the clothings bounding the work spacing is in motion, usually both. In order to increase the production of the carding machine, endeavours are made to make the speed of rotation or velocity of the moving elements, in use, as high as fibre processing technology will allow. The work spacing changes as a function of the operational conditions, the change occurring in the radial direction (starting from the axis of rotation) of the cylinder.
In carding, larger amounts of fibre material are increasingly being processed per unit time, which results in higher speeds for the work elements and higher installed capacities. Increasing fibre material throughflow (production) leads to increased generation of heat as a result of the mechanical work, even when the work surface remains constant. At the same time, however, the technological result of carding (web uniformity, degree of cleaning, reduction of neps etc.) is being continually improved, leading to more work surfaces in carding engagement and to closer settings of those work surfaces with respect to the cylinder (drum). The proportion of synthetic fibres being processed is continually increasing, with more heat, compared with cotton, being produced as a result of friction from contact with the work surfaces of the machine. The work elements of high-performance carding machines today are fully enclosed on all sides in order to meet the high safety standards, to prevent emission of particles into the spinning room environment and to minimise the maintenance requirement of the machines. Gratings or even open material-guiding surfaces, which allow an exchange of air, belong to the past. As a result of the circumstances mentioned, there is a marked increase in the input of heat into the machine whereas there is a marked decrease in the heat removed by means of convection. The resulting increase in the heating of high-performance carding machines results in greater thermoelastic deformations, which, because of the unequal temperature field distribution, influence the set spacings of the work surfaces: the spacings between the cylinder and the card top, doffer, fixed card tops and separating-off locations decrease. In extreme cases, the nip set between the work surfaces can be completely used up as a result of thermal expansion so that components in relative motion collide, causing major damage to the high-performance carding machine concerned. Additionally, it is especially possible for the generation of heat in the work region of the carding machine to result in different thermal expansions when the temperature differences between the components are too large.
In a known apparatus (EP 0 446 796 A), all parts influencing the work spacing (for example, the cylinder and the card top bars) are preferably fabricated from a material having a high elasticity modulus in order to reduce sagging over the working width. Such a material is, for example, steel or fibre-reinforced plastics material. The material selected has to ensure the desired dimensional accuracy of the part (in the case of the manufacturing procedure in question) and has to be able to maintain that in use. The material should accordingly exhibit less thermal expansion and/or greater thermal conductivity so that heat losses which occur (which are unavoidable at high production rates) do not result in disruptive deformation of the work elements. In the case of the known apparatus, the thermal expansion of the co-operating components influencing the work spacing, namely that of the cylinder (drum) and of the card top bars, is equal and homogeneous, because the components are made of the same material. Even though the material should exhibit less thermal expansion, the carding nip is reduced in undesirable manner—albeit to a small extent—which results in problems ranging from reduced carding quality to disruptions in operation. In addition, it is disadvantageous that widening of the cylinder as a result of centrifugal force cannot be reduced or avoided by the known measures.
It is an aim of the invention to provide an apparatus of the kind mentioned at the beginning that avoids or mitigates the mentioned disadvantages and that especially makes possible a carding nip or work spacing, between the cylinder clothing and the clothed and/or not clothed counterpart element, that remains constant or virtually constant when heat is generated.

Apparatus at a carding machine having a cylinder and clothed and/or unclothed elements located opposite the cylinder


A method of determining shift points in a step gear transmission system to maximize fuel economy is disclosed. In operation, the method uses fuel economy data from a first gear ratio to determine a first series of constant fuel consumption curves for the first gear ratio. The method then uses fuel economy data from a second gear ratio to determine a second series of constant fuel consumption curves for the second gear ratio. Next, the method determines points of intersection where a respective fuel consumption curve for the first gear ratio intersects its corresponding fuel consumption curve for the second gear ratio. A decision curve is generated from the points of intersection.

The invention relates to the field of transmissions, and more specifically, a system for and method of shifting a transmission to maximize fuel economy.
Transmissions control gear ratio changes in accordance with a shift map. Transmission designs may incorporate an automatic shifting mode known as xe2x80x9cConstant Groundspeed Autoshiftxe2x80x9d (CGA mode), which will automatically shift the transmission to maintain a desired groundspeed. An examination of a transmission system operating in CGA mode reveals that, for any given groundspeed command, the transmission gear ratio requirement is not unique. In other words, any one of several different combinations of engine speed and transmission gear ratio will produce the desired groundspeed. Because of this inherent flexibility, a transmission system can be designed to select the appropriate engine speed and transmission gear ratio based on a selected criterion. It would be useful to select the preferred gear ratio based on maximizing fuel economy, while maintaining an operator""s selected groundspeed.
A transmission which attempts to maximize fuel economy in a continuously variable transmission is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,666, xe2x80x9cTransmission Monitor/Control Microprocessor for Continuously Variable Power Trainxe2x80x9d. This patent describes a method for controlling a variable ratio power train to automatically adjust the drive reduction ratio so that engine power at all levels is produced at a minimum brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC). However, the patent only discloses use of such a system with a continuously variable transmission, not with a standard step gear system. The disclosed embodiment of the invention is for a CVT system having operator adjusted HI, MID, and LO range settings, settings which the operator must adjust or the invention cannot maintain adequate power. In addition, the invention does not teach allowing the operator to set a desired groundspeed while maintaining a minimum fuel use; rather, the invention teaches the operator setting a desired power level that the system attempts to maintain, regardless of groundspeed.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more problems or disadvantages associated with the prior art.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method of determining shift points in a step gear transmission system to maximize fuel economy is disclosed. In operation, the method uses fuel economy data from a first gear ratio to determine a first series of constant fuel consumption curves for the first gear ratio. The method then uses fuel economy data from a second gear ratio to determine a second series of constant fuel consumption curves for the second gear ratio. Next, the method determines points of intersection where a respective fuel consumption curve for the first gear ratio intersects its corresponding fuel consumption curve for the second gear ratio. A decision curve is generated from the points of intersection.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions is disclosed. The execution of the instructions is adapted to implement a method for determining shift points in a step gear transmission system to maximize fuel economy. In operation, the method uses fuel economy data from a first gear ratio to determine a first series of constant fuel consumption curves for the first gear ratio. The method then uses fuel economy data from a second gear ratio to determine a second series of constant fuel consumption curves for the second gear ratio. Next, the method determines points of intersection where a respective fuel consumption curve for the first gear ratio intersects its corresponding fuel consumption curve for the second gear ratio. A decision curve is generated from the points of intersection.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system for determining shift points in a step gear transmission system to maximize fuel economy is disclosed. The system includes a controller and memory coupled to the controller. The controller is operable to use fuel economy data from a first gear ratio to determine a first series of constant fuel consumption curves for the first gear ratio. The controller then uses fuel economy data from a second gear ratio to determine a second series of constant fuel consumption curves for the second gear ratio. Next, the controller determines points of intersection where a respective fuel consumption curve for the first gear ratio intersects its corresponding fuel consumption curve for the second gear ratio. A decision curve is generated from the points of intersection.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a step gear transmission to maximize fuel economy is disclosed. The method receives data regarding the operating point of the engine. The operating point is compared to a stored decision curve, wherein the decision curve divides a range of operating points between a first adjacent gear ratio and a second adjacent gear ratio based on the most fuel efficient gear ratio for operation. The method includes shifting the transmission between the first adjacent gear ratio and the second adjacent gear ratio based on the comparison of the operating point to the decision curve.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system for controlling a step gear transmission to maximize fuel economy is disclosed. The system includes a controller and memory coupled to the controller. The controller receives data regarding the operating point of the engine. The operating point is compared to a stored decision curve, wherein the decision curve divides a range of operating points between a first adjacent gear ratio and a second adjacent gear ratio based on the most fuel efficient gear ratio for operation. The method includes shifting the transmission between the first adjacent gear ratio and the second adjacent gear ratio based on the comparison of the operating point to the decision curve.
The foregoing summarizes only a few aspects of the invention and is not intended to be reflective of the full scope of the invention as claimed. Additional features and advantages of the invention are set. forth in the following description, may be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. Moreover, both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Constant groundspeed autoshift method and apparatus for maximizing fuel economy


A medium reversing and discharging device includes a discharger that discharges a medium in a paper discharge direction from a discharge outlet, a holder that holds and reverses the medium, and a driver that moves the holder such that when a first plane along a portion of the medium in contact with the discharge outlet does not intersect with a second plane along a portion of the medium held by the holder on a downstream side in the paper discharge direction of the discharge outlet a moving speed at which the holder moves is lower than a discharge speed at which the medium is discharged from the discharge outlet.

Medium reversing and discharging devices are known that, when discharging a plurality of media from a printing press, a printer device, or a scanner device, reverse the media in the air to stack the media on an exit tray so as to be aligned at leading ends thereof (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-105802, Japanese Translation of PCT International Application Publication No. 2009-504531, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 4-32457).
However, a sheet of paper read by the scanner may have a tendency such as a folding tendency, and may buckle when being reversed, resulting in a discharge failure.


Electronic component validation testing is facilitated by a method, system and program product which allows the importation of virtual signals derived from simulation verification testing of the electronic component design into electronic test equipment employed during validation testing of the actual electronic component. The method includes: storing simulation data resulting from simulation testing of an electronic component's design; employing electronic test equipment to perform real-time testing of the actual electronic component and obtain real-time test signals therefor; automatically correlating the stored simulation data with the actual real-time test signals; and performing at least one of: overlaying and/or displaying the correlated simulation data as virtual signals with the real-time test signals; and employing a trigger event automatically ascertained from the stored simulation data and triggering the electronic test equipment based thereon, thereby automatically controlling real-time testing of the electronic component via the stored simulation data.

The use of computer simulation is widespread in many areas such as circuit design. The cost of manufacturing an integrated circuit is extremely high, and it is often desirable that the hardware incorporated into the integrated circuit be verified prior to the actual fabrication of the chip. To that end, integrated circuit manufacturers often use simulators to verify the hardware and software intended to be executed by the hardware. The desired hardware design is designated at the "target hardware", while the desired software to be executed by the target hardware is designated as the "target program".
There are several techniques that are used to simulate target hardware and a target program for verification. One approach is to simulate the hardware using a computer hardware simulator. The hardware simulator is a software program that emulates the responses of the target hardware and is implemented entirely in software. Thus, in the hardware simulator, the target hardware and target program are simulated entirely by computer software. Various types of hardware simulators are known. Another approach uses a microprocessor emulator to model a microprocessor that is typically part of the target hardware and used to execute the target program. Thus, the target program and portions of the target hardware can be simulated by hardware devices such as a processor emulator.
In addition to hardware verification, an electronic component typically undergoes validation testing after actual construction of the hardware and testing of the actual software thereon. This component validation process typically employs electronic test equipment, such as an oscilloscope or a logic analyzer.
With the increasing complexity of electronic components, the visibility of internal states during the validation process is limited to dedicated input/output pins (or to scan-based designs). In the case of dedicated input/output pins, there is a limitation on the number of pins available, and a decision is necessarily made during design of an electronic component which signals will be made available either directly or via multiplex selection.
Often, it is desirable to know internal states of an electronic component during component validation testing in order to evaluate the correctness of generated component outputs, or to analyze unexpected behavior of the component outputs. Such output measurements are best made during validation testing of the actual electronic component, rather than during the component's design verification, which is a simulated environment.

Importation of virtual signals into electronic test equipment to facilitate testing of an electronic component

International Business Machines Corporation


Pulsed light sources, such as a flashlamp or laser, remove coatings from substrates via the ablation method. A photodetector circuit, sensing reflected light from the surface being ablated, provides a feedback signal that indicates the reflected color intensity of the surface being ablated. The boundary between the coatings or substrate surfaces is distinguished by a change in color intensity between an upper coating and an undercoating, e.g., between a topcoat of paint and a primer coat of paint, or between a coating and the substrate surface itself. The color intensity determination thus provides a measure relative to when one coating has been removed and another coating remains. The photodetector circuit is also useful for providing feedback information relative to the quality of a stripped work surface for quality control or other purposes.

Material coatings play an important role in our manufactured products based society. Coatings provide immunity to corrosion, thermal insulation, shielding, as well as appearance enhancement, and an aid in identification.
During the life of many manufactured products, such as bridges, aircraft, automobiles, and ships, painted coatings require removal and replacement for a variety of reasons. For example, refurbishment of the paint on aircraft is a regular maintenance item. Commercial airlines repaint their aircraft about every 4-5 years of service. The United States military typically repaints its aircraft after three years of service, or less. Coatings on the exterior surfaces of large ships or bridges require periodic refurbishment in order to prevent or inhibit corrosion.
The removal of paint from the surfaces of aircraft presents special problems Such surfaces are large, irregularly shaped, and relatively delicate. Because the surfaces of aircraft are typically lightweight aluminum or organically based composite materials, such surfaces and the underlying substrates are particularly susceptible to damage while undergoing paint removal that could degrade their structural integrity.
Many different methods have been used to remove painted coatings. One type, the "particle medium blast" (PMB) method involves impinging the surface to be stripped with particles such as BB's, plastic media, steel shot, wheat starch, and/or sand. However, PMB methods that are energetic enough by themselves to remove hardened coatings such as paint may damage delicate surfaces such as are found on aircraft and automobiles if they are not carefully managed. For example, if the impinging particles dwell too long at one location, the impinged surface may become pitted or stress hardened. This is especially important with regard to the surfaces of aircraft since pitting or stress hardening may change the loading on that portion of the aircraft. PMB may also damage putty joints often found on aircraft between surface plates.
It is also known in the art to apply chemical compounds to painted surfaces in order to chemically breakdown the layers of paint, thereby stripping the paint away from the surface to be exposed. However, such compounds may pose a risk to human health, are usually toxic, and often not biodegradable. Overall, these types of compounds are difficult and costly to dispose of because they present serious environmental problems.
Mechanical paint removal techniques are also known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,858, entitled "Ultrasonic Assisted Paint Removal Method" discloses a hand held tool which uses an ultrasonic reciprocating edge placed in contact with the surface to be stripped. Unfortunately, employment of this tool is labor intensive and relies upon the skill of a human operator to use it effectively. Further, control of this tool is a problem when applied to aircraft because the aircraft surface may be damaged if there is excessive tool dwell at one location.
Radiant energy paint removal techniques are likewise known in the art. One such system uses a laser and video frame grabber in a video controlled paint removal system in which paint is stripped from a surface using the output of the laser to ablate the paint while a video camera converts images of the surface being stripped into electronic data signals. The data signals are used to control the laser output. A processor compares the data signals with parameters stored in a memory to determine whether sufficient paint has been removed from the surface being stripped If an insufficient amount of paint has been removed, then the surface continues being irradiated by the laser. If the irradiated area has been adequately stripped, the processor directs the laser to ablate another area. While the basic approach of ablating and "looking" to see if the proper amount of paint has been removed is sound, doing the looking using a video camera is extremely data intensive, requiring an enormous amount of data to be generated, gathered and analyzed in real time. Thus, real time control of video controlled paint removal systems is extremely difficult. What is needed, therefore, is a system and method wherein an ablation removal process can be easily controlled in real time without extensive data handling and processing requirements.
The difficulty associated with removing paint or other coatings is compounded when the basic substrate material over which the coating has been placed is non-metallic. For example, the use of composite structures is becoming increasingly more common. Such structures are typically manufactured, for example, of fiber reinforced epoxy or other thermoset or thermoplastic composites. Many aircraft and automobiles extensively employ plastic composites for surface structures. Such structures are painted for a variety of reasons including aesthetics, identification, and camouflage. However, such painted surfaces deteriorate under the action of weather and the mechanical forces to which they are subjected, thus requiring removal and replacement. Disadvantageously, other than hand sanding, there are no suitable methods for removing paint from the surfaces of such composites. PMB and mechanical grinding methods that are sufficiently energetic by themselves to remove the paint are also sufficiently energetic to damage the composite materials. Similarly, the use of chemical compounds to remove the paint is not a satisfactory solution because such chemicals tend to attack the composites, as well as the paint. Hence, there is a critical need in the art for a means for safely and efficiently removing paint or other coating materials from composite substrate materials without compromising the integrity of the underlying substrate composite material.
For a variety of reasons, then, known paint removal techniques for removing paint or other coatings from large surfaces, have not proven wholly satisfactory. It can thus be appreciated that coating removal, and particularly, the removal of paint from large and often delicate surfaces such as are found on aircraft and automobiles, is a problem that has not yet been satisfactorily solved.

Method and system for selective removal of material coating from a substrate using a flashlamp