A CBR/VBR traffic scheduler includes multiple CBR/VBR shapers to shape traffic over a wide range of peak cell rates for multiple CBR and VBR connection. Each shaper points to one or more VCs in a link list and includes a PCR counter initialized to a first value, an SCR counter initialized to a second and an arbitration counter. Each shaper is also connected to one of several clock sources, each having an associated clock cycle. A priority encoder, coupled to each arbitration counter, provides for determining priority between shapers having one or more associated VCs ready for transmission. Both the PCR counter and the SCR counter for each shaper is decremented during each associated clock cycle. For each shaper, when the PCR counter is decremented to a value of zero, the arbitration counter is initialized to a preset value and enabled for selection by the priority encoder. For each shaper, when the SCR counter is decremented to zero, a credit count parameter associated with each of the VCs in the associated link list is incremented by a predetermined value. The shaper having the lowest arbitration count value is selected by the priority encoder for cell transmission. When a shaper is selected for cell transmission, the associated link list of VCs is walked through in order. Only VCs that have a credit count parameter above a threshold value are transmitted.

The present invention relates in general to traffic scheduling in networking systems, and more particularly to shaping Constant Bit Rate (CBR) and Variable Bit Rate (VBR) traffic in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networking system.
The need for faster communication among computers and other systems requires ever faster and more efficient networks. Today, networks typically use an amalgam of various software and hardware to implement a variety of network functions and standards. Network devices such as client computer systems, servers, hubs, routers, switches, network backbones, etc., are each complex devices that require digital processing in hardware and software to facilitate network communication. Some tasks performed in a network device include translation between different network standards such as Ethernet and ATM, reformatting data, traffic scheduling, routing data cells, packets messages, etc. Depending on the particular protocol being implemented, some tasks may be performed at different points in the network.
In conventional networking systems that implement ATM, data traffic is handled by a Virtual Channel, or Virtual Connection (VC). There are typically many VCs in each system and each VC has its own characteristics, such as packet type, packet size and protocols. For each VC, a descriptor which identifies the particular VC and its characteristics and requirements is stored in a memory. When a scheduler determines that a particular VC is ready for transmission, the VC descriptor is accessed and processed to determine the appropriate characteristics and requirements for cell transmission on the particular connection.
When scheduling transmissions and shaping traffic for many VCs, several service categories are typically available, including Constant Bit Rate (CBR), Variable Bit Rate (VBR) and Available Bit Rate (ABR), in order of typical priority. Because the ABR category typically has the lowest priority, one or more CBR or VBR VCs may be transmitted before an ABR VC that is scheduled for transmission.
Traffic shaping is a mechanism that alters the traffic characteristic of a stream of cells on a connection to achieve better network efficiency while meeting the quality of service (QOS) objectives, or to ensure conformance at a subsequent interface. Traffic shaping must maintain cell sequence integrity on a connection. Traffic shaping is often implemented in the network by usage parameter control (UPC) or network parameter control (NPC) functions, and/or virtual source, destination. Traffic shaping may also be used by the end system to ensure that the cells generated by the source at the user network interface (UNI) are in conformance with the negotiated traffic contract.
Each connection has a set of parameters specified in the connection traffic descriptor. The conformance algorithm and the parameters with the connection traffic descriptor define the conformance of a cell at an interface connection. The set of conformance definitions supported at the public UNI interface is network specific.
CBR connection conformance is typically characterized by a Peak Cell Rate (PCR) parameter and the corresponding Cell Delay Variation Tolerance (CDVT) for one or more traffic flows. For example, one PCR parameter could be for cell-loss priority (CLP)=0 or 1 flow and another could be for CLP=1 flow. One could define conformance to be the same for both CLP=0 and CLP=0 or 1 flows. In most cases, the same CDVT value is used for both PCR (CLP=0 and CLP=0 or 1) parameters. PCR is a mandatory traffic parameter in any CBR source traffic descriptor for CLP=0 or 1. On the other hand, CDVT is mandatory in any CBR connection traffic descriptor.
VBR traffic can be further classified as real time (RT) or non-real time (NRT). The conformance for both RT and NRT VBR connection is typically characterized by a Sustainable Cell Rate (SCR) parameter and corresponding CDVT for at least the CLP=0+1 flow. RT-VBR and NRT-VBR are typically distinguished by their QOS parameter, and also by the magnitude of the Maximum Burst Size (MBS) supported. A larger MBS is more typical for NRT-VBR connections. PCR for CLP=0+1 is a mandatory traffic parameter in any source traffic descriptor for a RT or NRT VBR connection. The CDVT is a mandatory parameter in any connection traffic descriptor for a RT or NRT VBR connection.
The PCR traffic parameter generally specifies an upper bound on the rate at which traffic can be submitted on an ATM connection. Enforcement of the PCR parameter by the UPC allows the network to allocate sufficient resources to ensure that the network performance objectives, for example the cell loss ratio, can be achieved. The PCR parameter for a given connection is typically negotiated during the signaling phase. The PCR parameter is coded in cells per second, and the granularity supported by the signaling message is typically 1 cell per second. An intuitive definition for PCR is the reciprocal of the minimum spacing of cells of an ATM connection on a transmission link.
The SCR parameter generally specifies an upper bound on the conforming average rate of an ATM connection. SCR is usually much smaller than PCR. SCR is enforced by a usage parameter control (UPC) agent to allow the network operator to allocate sufficient resources to ensure that the network performance objectives can be achieved. In a signaling message, SCR is given in unit of cells per second, and the granularity supported by the signaling message is typically 1 cell per second. The average rate is the number of cells transmitted divided by the duration of the connection.
The MBS parameter is generally determined from the burst tolerance, SCR and the generic cell rate algorithm (GCRA). MBS may be transmitted at PCR and still meet the conformance definition. In a signaling message, MBS is given in units of cells, and the granularity is typically 1 cell.
The present invention provides novel techniques for shaping CBR and VBR traffic. In particular, the techniques of the present invention provide enhanced traffic shaping and scheduling capabilities and increased data throughput.
According to the invention, a CBR/VBR traffic scheduler includes multiple CBR/VBR shapers to shape traffic over a wide range of peak cell rates for multiple CBR and VBR connection. Each shaper points to one or more VCs in a link list and includes a PCR counter initialized to a first value, an SCR counter initialized to a second and an arbitration counter. Each shaper is also connected to one of several clock sources, each having an associated clock cycle. A priority encoder, coupled to each arbitration counter, provides for determining priority between shapers having one or more associated VCs ready for transmission. Both the PCR counter and the SCR counter for each shaper is decremented during each associated clock cycle. For each shaper, when the PCR counter is decremented to a value of zero, the arbitration counter is initialized to a preset value and enabled for selection by the priority encoder. For each shaper, when the SCR counter is decremented to zero, a credit count parameter associated with each of the VCs in the associated link list is incremented by a predetermined value. The shaper having the lowest arbitration count value is selected by the priority encoder for cell transmission. When a shaper is selected for cell transmission, the associated link list of VCs is walked through in order. Only VCs that have a credit count parameter above a threshold value are transmitted.
According to an aspect of the invention, a network device, coupled to one or more networks, is provided for shaping cell transmission traffic for a plurality of variable bit rate (VBR) and constant bit rate (CBR) virtual channels (VCs). The device typically comprises a plurality of traffic shapers, wherein each shaper is connected to one of a plurality of clock sources, each clock source having a clock cycle, wherein each shaper is capable of shaping traffic for CBR and VBR VCs. Each shaper typically includes a pointer to a first VC in a link list of one or more VCs, a first counter initialized to a first starting value, wherein the first counter is decremented continuously on each clock cycle of the associated clock source, and an arbitration counter. The device also typically includes a priority encoder, coupled to each of the plurality of arbitration counters, for determining transmission priority between the plurality of shapers. In typical operation, for each shaper, when the first counter is decremented to a value of zero, the arbitration counter is initialized to a second starting value and enabled for selection by the priority encoder. Additionally, for each shaper, the arbitration counter is decremented after a cell transmission time associated with the shaper, and when one or more arbitration counters are enabled, the priority encoder selects for cell transmission the shaper that has the lowest value in its enabled arbitration counter.
Reference to the remaining portions of the specification, including the drawings and claims, will realize other features and advantages of the present invention. Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with respect to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.


Disclosed is, a driving support apparatus which includes a projecting unit configured to project a predetermined support pattern on a road surface ahead of an own vehicle; and a driving support control unit configured to control a projection state of the support pattern. The driving support control unit is configured to detect information of a road on which the own vehicle is travelling by a road information detecting unit, to detect a traveling state of the own vehicle by a travelling state detecting unit, the traveling state including at least one of a vehicle speed and a steering direction, to determine a proper vehicle speed and proper steering based on the detected road information and the detected traveling state by determining units, and to project the support pattern as a moving image based on the determination by a projection control unit.

A technology for supporting driving of an automobile has been proposed in which an image including information effective for supporting driving is projected and drawn on a road surface so that a driver may drive the automobile by visually recognizing the image. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-26759 discloses a technology of detecting a lane on which an own vehicle is travelling, and determining whether the own vehicle deviates from the detected lane. When there is a risk of deviation from the lane, information or an image for alerting the deviation from the lane is projected and displayed on the road surface ahead of the own vehicle. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-207349 discloses a technology of recognizing a vehicle speed suitable for an own vehicle based on information on a road on which the own vehicle is travelling, and travelling information such as, for example, a speed of the own vehicle. When it is determined that it is preferable to slow down the own vehicle, light distribution of a head lamp is controlled such that visibility at a far front area of the own vehicle is reduced.


Disclosed is an etch process wherein hydrogen monoiodide (HI) ions are employed to bombard a patterned film, thereby creating geometric features in the patterned film with substantially anisotropic sidewalls. The etch process has a high selectivity to oxide, allowing the etch process to terminate on a thin pad oxide, especially when using a two step etch process. The etch process is also highly selective to photoresist, further enhancing the resulting anisotropic nature of the geometrical feature sidewalls.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor device manufacturing. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a process for enhancing etch selectivity and uniformity when etching silicon-containing materials in semiconductor device manufacturing.
2. The Relevant Technology
The integrated circuit manufacturing industry is rapidly progressing toward more highly advanced and miniaturized integrated circuits. This progress is effectively revolutionizing the electronics industry due to the higher capability of the electronic devices that can be produced as a result. In order to continue this progress, however, new manufacturing processes are needed which have the capability of producing the finer features that are required. For instance, improved processes are needed to etch substantially normal or anisotropic submicron sidewalls on silicon substrates of in-process integrated semiconductor circuits. New processes are also needed to etch submicron geometric features in films on the silicon substrates to exact depths. Consequently, the new processes must have a high selectivity to photoresist and to pad oxides.
The prior art has utilized methods such as the use of diatomic chloride in ionized plasma etches to emphasize the physical aspects of the etch, so as to produce more anisotropic sidewalls. Etch processes have even been conducted in two stages, a primary etch and a secondary etch, with the secondary etch using less active compounds. However, as features become smaller, even these processes are proving insufficient.
One example of a drawback of current prior art processes is shown in FIG. 1. Therein is shown a line space pair 12 being etched in a film of polysilicon 14. Polysilicon film 14 is formed over a pad oxide 16 on a silicon substrate 10. Above polysilicon film 14 is a patterned layer of photoresist 18. It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the ionized etchant material attacks the exposed surface of polysilicon film 14.
The prior art etch also has a tendency to attack the sidewalls of line space pair 12. This results in undercutting of polysilicon film 14 beneath photoresist layer 18. Furthermore, when using highly reactive etchants such as diatomic chloride, the sidewalls of photoresist layer 18 are also eroded, thereby giving the etchant even greater access to the sidewalls 20 of line space pair 12, and resulting in non-anisotropically sloped sidewalls. This is problematic, as it alters the critical dimensions of the device features. Also, the non-anisotropically sloped sidewalls are undesirable, as it often necessary when forming certain features of integrated circuits, such as gate regions in DRAM memory cells, to etch lines and other graphic features anisotropically. Anisotropic etches are also desirable as they allow for higher device density and consequently, greater integrated circuit miniaturization.
Thus, it can be seen that a need exists in the art for an etch process with which selectivity to both photoresist and oxide can be increased, and which results in a more anisotropic nature of sidewalls in etched geometrical features.


Described herein are systems and methods configured for serving pixel mapped content to one or more merchandising communication systems. A merchandising communication system may be included at a retail environment or other location. Pixel mapped content may include barcodes, text, and other desired content.

There are a variety of retail options for displaying a variety of information in retail environments, including, pricing, labeling, promotions, etc. Traditionally, this information has been provided using print systems, including slide-in paper system, plastic label systems, adhesive label systems, etc. More recently, there has been increased interest in utilizing digital or electronic communication systems to display such information.

Systems and methods for serving pixel mapped content to merchandising communication systems


A method for operating a multiple point transmission system is disclosed. The method includes reconfiguring the multiple point transmission system according to an updated configuration of an at least one radio bearer between an at least one transmission point and a terminal device, and communicating with the terminal device using the reconfigured multiple point transmission system. The configuration of the at least one radio bearer is updated according to operating condition information of the terminal device.

Wireless communication systems have become an important means by which many people worldwide have come to communicate. A wireless communication system interconnects many nodes by using electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, rather than wires commonly used in a fixed telephone network system. A wireless communication system often consists of many mobile devices and a plurality of base stations. A base station serves a mobile device when it enters a region associated with the base station.
Wireless communication systems are widely used to provide voice and data services for multiple users using a variety of access terminals such as cellular telephones, laptop computers and various multimedia devices. Such communications systems can encompass local area networks, such as IEEE 801.11 networks, cellular telephone and/or mobile broadband networks. The communication system can use one or more multiple access techniques, such as Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) and others. Mobile broadband networks can conform to a number of standards such as the main 2nd-Generation (2G) technology Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), the main 3rd-Generation (3G) technology Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and the main 4th-Generation (4G) technology Long Term Evolution (LTE).
As technologies evolve, multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) systems are employed to achieve better channel utilization and overall performance. In particular, MIMO systems are communication systems having multiple transmission and multiple reception antennas at both enhanced Node B (eNB) (or base station (BS), Node B (NB, and so forth) and user equipment (UE) (or mobile station (MS), terminal, terminal device, user, subscriber, subscriber equipment and so on). In a MIMO system, a transmitter may transmit a multiple user MIMO signals to a plurality of receivers. Each of the MIMO signals may be pre-coded with a corresponding pre-coding scheme. In addition, the MIMO signals may be spatially multiplexed and transmitted in the same time-frequency slot.
An extension to MIMO makes use of multiple transmission points (each of which may be a set of geographically co-located transmit antennas) to transmit to a single UE or a group of UEs. The transmissions from the multiple transmission points may occur at different times and/or at different frequencies so that the UE (or the group of UEs) will receive transmissions from all of the multiple transmission points over a time window. This operating mode may often be referred to as multiple point transmission. As an example, at a first time, a first transmission point may be employed to transmit data to a UE, at a second time, a second transmission point may be employed to transmit data to the UE, and so on.
Coordinated multiple point (CoMP) transmission is one form of multiple point transmission, wherein the transmission made by the multiple transmission points are coordinated so that the UE or the group of UE may be able to either combine the transmissions made by the multiple transmission points or avoid interference to improve overall performance. A transmission point may be an eNB, a part of an eNB, a remote radio head coupled to an eNB and the like. When the UE transmits data to an eNB, a CoMP based reception means the transmitted data from the UE will be received by a plurality of geographically separated eNBs. On the other hand, when the UE receives data, the data to the UE may be instantaneously transmitted from a plurality of transmission points.
As an extension to multiple point transmission systems, coordinated multiple point (CoMP) transmission and reception is adopted for Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) to further improve channel utilization and overall performance. CoMP helps to enable the dynamic coordination of transmission and reception of a plurality of base stations. More particularly, when a mobile station is located at an overlapped region loosely covered by a plurality of base stations, CoMP helps to coordinate the base stations so that the base stations are able to jointly transmit user data to the mobile station. In addition, through a dynamic base station selection scheme, CoMP helps to find a base station and enable the base station to transmit user data to the mobile station. In order to better coordinate a plurality of base stations serving a mobile station, the channel property feedback information such as channel status information from mobile stations to a network entity is required.
CoMP transmission has been considered as a fundamental element for the next generation wireless communications systems. For example, in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution Advanced standards compliant communications systems, CoMP transmission is an effective tool to improve the coverage of high data rates, cell-edge throughput, and/or to increase overall communications system throughput in both high load and low load scenarios. As such, by employing CoMP, a LTE-A system may achieve better coverage and capacity.

System and method of radio bearer management for multiple point transmission


A series connected unit type ferroelectric memory device is provided, in which a substantially constant read signal margin can be obtained regardless of the position of the selected word line. A memory cell includes a parallel-connected ferroelectric capacitor and cell transistor. Cell blocks each include a plurality of series-connected memory cells arranged between terminals along a pair of bit lines. Some terminals are connected to the bit lines via block selecting transistors. Other terminals are connected to the plate lines. A gate of each cell transistor is connected to a word line. A sense amplifier is connected to the bit lines. When data is read, an offset voltage applying circuit compensates for the imbalance in read signal margin caused by the difference in position of the word line by applying to the bit line an offset voltage which differs depending on the position of the selected word line.

This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-274222, filed on Sep. 8, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ferroelectric memory devices for storing data in a nonvolatile manner by the use of ferroelectric capacitors, and, more particularly, to a ferroelectric memory device having a cell block formed of series-connected plural unit cells each including a parallel-connected ferroelectric capacitor and a memory cell transistor.
2. Description of Related Art
A ferroelectric memory device stores binary data in a nonvolatile manner in accordance with the value of remanent polarization of a ferroelectric capacitor. Generally, a memory cell of a conventional ferroelectric memory device is formed by series-connecting a ferroelectric capacitor and a transistor, as in the case of a DRAM. However, unlike a DRAM, a ferroelectric memory device stores data by remanent polarization. Accordingly, it is necessary to drive a plate line in order to read out a signal charge to a bit line. Therefore, a ferroelectric memory device requires a plate line driving circuit for driving a plate line. However, in a conventional ferroelectric memory device, a plate line driving circuit takes up significant space.
A cell array arrangement of a ferroelectric memory device, in which the area of a plate line driving circuit can be reduced, has been proposed by Takashima et al. In this arrangement, both sides of a ferroelectric capacitor (C) are connected to a source and a drain of a cell transistor (T) to form a unit cell, and a plurality of such unit cells are series-connected to form a cell block (D. Takashima et al., xe2x80x9cHigh-density chain ferroelectric random memory (CFeRAM)xe2x80x9d in Proc. VSLI Symp. June 1997, pp. 83-84). In this series connected TC unit type ferroelectric memory device, a plate line driving circuit can be shared by, e.g., eight unit cells. Therefore, a cell array can be highly integrated.
FIG. 24 shows a configuration of a memory cell array 1 of such a series connected TC unit type ferroelectric memory device. A unit cell MC consists of parallel-connected ferroelectric capacitor C and cell transistor T. In the example of FIG. 24, eight of such unit cells are series-connected to form a cell block MCB. FIG. 24 shows two cell blocks MCB0 and MCB1 connected to a pair of bit lines BBL and BL, respectively.
One end of the cell block MCB0 is connected to the bit line BBL via a block selecting transistor BST0 and one end of the cell block MCB1 is connected to the bit line BL via a block selecting transistor BST1. The other end of the cell block MCB0 is connected to a plate line BPL, and the other end of the cell block MCB1 is connected to a plate line PL. Gates of cell transistors in each cell block are connected to word lines WL0-WL7. A sense amplifier SA for sensing and amplifying read data is connected to the bit lines BL and BBL. Block selecting signals BS0 and BS1 are inputted to gates of the block selecting transistors BST0 and BST1, respectively.
FIG. 25 is a timing chart showing basic operations of such a ferroelectric memory device. In this case, a unit cell stores data as data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d when the remanent polarization of the ferroelectric capacitor is in a positive state, and store data as data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d when the remanent polarization of the ferroelectric capacitor is in a negative state. In a standby mode, all the word lines are held to be at xe2x80x9cHxe2x80x9d, the block selecting signals BS0, BS1 are held to be at xe2x80x9cLxe2x80x9d, and the bit lines BL, BBL and the plate lines PL, BPL are held to be at VSS (ground potential). At this time, the terminals of the ferroelectric capacitors C are shunted by the ON-state cell transistors so as to store data stably.
In an active mode, when a unit cell at the side of the bit line BL is selected by, e.g., the word line WL2, the bit line BL is held to be in a floating state to set the word line WL2 to be at xe2x80x9cLxe2x80x9d, and then, the block selecting signal BS1 is held to be at xe2x80x9cHxe2x80x9d, and the electric potential of the plate line PL is raised from VSS (ground potential) to VAA (positive potential). In this way, a voltage is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor of the selected unit cell, and a voltage signal is read to the bit line BL in accordance with whether the data is data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d or data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d.
The voltage signal read to the bit line BL is detected as a result of a comparison with a reference voltage Vref applied to the bit line BBL, which is paired with the bit line BL. That is, when a sense amplifier activating signal SE is raised, the sense amplifier SA sets the bit line BL to be at VAA if the data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is read, and at VSS if the data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is read. After that, by deactivating the sense amplifier SA, the read data is rewritten.
In these reading and rewriting operations, when the data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is read, a destructive read is performed, and when the data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is read, a nondestructive read is performed. That is, when the data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is read, the remanent polarization of the ferroelectric capacitor is remarkably reduced due to the addition of a positive voltage from the plate line PL, thereby causing a polarization reversal. After the reading operation, when the voltage of the plate line is lowered, since the bit line is held to be at a high potential by the read data, a reverse voltage of the voltage at the time of the reading operation is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor to perform the rewriting operation until the remanent polarization reaches the +Pr again. When the data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is read, no polarization reversal is caused by the plate line voltage. Further, no reversal voltage is applied after the reading operation. Therefore, the rewriting operation is performed while the remanent polarization remains negative.
In the above-described operations, the value of the read signal is determined by the capacitance of the bit line and the characteristic curves of the ferroelectric capacitor. FIG. 26 shows the relationship between the characteristic curves (hysteresis loop) and the value of the read signal. The positive voltage VAA supplied from the plate line side to the ferroelectric capacitor is shown as xe2x88x92VAA on the minus voltage axis, and the positive voltage VAA supplied from the bit line side to the ferroelectric capacitor is shown as VAA on the plus voltage axis. The bit line capacitance is shown as Cb. As shown in FIG. 26, the risings in potential of the bit line at the time of reading xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d data and xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d data can be obtained as the intersections of load lines having the inclination of xe2x88x92Cb and the hysteresis loop. In this case, the risings in voltage of the bit line are shown relative to xe2x88x92VAA.
As is apparent from FIG. 26, the read potentials of the xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d data and xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d data are lowered as the bit line capacitance Cb increases. Therefore, the read signal value, which is the difference between these potentials, also depends on the bit line capacitance Cb. Unlike a typical DRAM, the bit line capacitance dependency of the read signal value reaches the maximum value at a certain value of the bit line capacitance.
A series connected TC unit type ferroelectric memory device has a characteristic that the bit line load capacitance Cb differs depending on the position of the selected word line in the cell block. That is, if the case where a memory cell most distant from the bit line is selected by the word line WL7 is compared with the case where a memory cell closest to the bit line is selected by the word line WL0, the bit line capacitance is greater in the former case since the parasitic capacitances of the unit cells connected to the word lines WL0-WL6 are added as loads.
FIG. 27 shows that the bit line capacitance Cb substantially changes in accordance with the position of the selected word line, thereby changing the read signal value. The read signal potential is lower in the case of selecting the word line WL7 than the case of selecting the word line WL0 for both xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d data and xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d data.
When data is sensed, if one of the pair of bit lines BL, BBL is selected, the other is used as the reference bit line, to which a reference potential Vref is applied, as shown in FIG. 27. The reference potential Vref is set to be at the intermediate value between the read bit line potential in the case of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d data and the read bit line potential in the case of xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d data. However, as is apparent from FIG. 27, in a series connected TC unit type ferroelectric memory device, if the reference potential Vref is set to be at a constant value, when the selected word line changes from WL0 to WL7, the difference between the read potential and the reference potential Vref is smaller in the case of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d data, and bigger in the case of xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d data. FIG. 28 shows the relationship between the read potential and the position of the word line. The broken line in FIG. 28 represents the intermediate values between the read potentials in the cases of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d data and xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d data.
As mentioned previously, in a series connected TC unit type ferroelectric memory device, the load capacitance-of the read memory cell changes in accordance with the position of the selected word line. This results in a problem that if the reference voltage Vref is set to be at a constant value, signal margins of xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d data and xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d data vary depending on the position of the accessed word line.
Given the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a series connected TC unit type ferroelectric memory device in which a substantially constant read signal margin can be obtained regardless of the word line position.
A ferroelectric memory device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a memory cell array in which a unit cell is formed of a ferroelectric capacitor a cell transistor, a source and a drain of the cell transistor being connected to both ends of the ferroelectric capacitor and a gate of the cell transistor being connected to a word line, and a cell block is formed by series-connecting a plurality of unit cells between a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the cell block being connected to a bit line via a block selecting transistor, and the second terminal of the cell block being connected to a plate line; a sense amplifier for sensing and amplifying a signal read from the ferroelectric capacitor of the unit cell to the bit line; a plate line driving circuit for driving the plate line; and an offset voltage applying circuit for, when data is read and before the sense amplifier is deactivated, applying to the bit line different offset voltages in accordance with the positions of the selected unit cells in the cell block.
In this way, by applying a different offset voltage to the bit line in accordance with the position of the selected unit cell, an imbalance in signal margin due to the parasitic capacitance in the cell block, which is a characteristic of a series connected TC unit type ferroelectric memory device, can be compensated.
A ferroelectric memory device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: a memory cell array in which a unit cell is formed of a ferroelectric capacitor a cell transistor, a source and a drain of the cell transistor being connected to both ends of the ferroelectric capacitor and a gate of the cell transistor being connected to a word line, and a cell block is formed by series-connecting a plurality of unit cells between a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the cell block being connected to a bit line via a block selecting transistor, and the second terminal of the cell block being connected to a plate line; a sense amplifier for sensing and amplifying a signal read from the ferroelectric capacitor of the unit cell to the bit line; a plate line driving circuit for driving the plate line; and a precharge circuit for setting internal nodes of the cell block to be at a first potential which is somewhere between signal potentials of binary data read to the bit line in a standby mode.
A ferroelectric memory device according to a third aspect of the present invention includes: a memory cell array in which a unit cell is formed of a ferroelectric capacitor a cell transistor, a source and a drain of the cell transistor being connected to both ends of the ferroelectric capacitor and a gate of the cell transistor being connected to a word line, and a cell block is formed by series-connecting a plurality of unit cells between a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the cell block being connected to, a bit line via a block selecting transistor, and the second terminal of the cell block being connected to a plate line; a sense amplifier for sensing and amplifying a signal read from the ferroelectric capacitor of the unit cell to the bit line; a plate line driving circuit for driving the plate line; and a dummy cell block for, when data is read, applying a different parasitic capacitance to the reference bit line paired to the bit line to which the selected cell block is connected in accordance with the position of the selected unit cell.


A computer-implemented method comprises receiving one or more data transformation commands through a console in a console session, the one or more data transformation commands relating to one or more initial datasets; executing the one or more data transformation commands using the one or more initial datasets to modify at least one of the one or more initial datasets to generate a modified dataset; generating a set of environment flags for the command to indicate that the one or more initial datasets has been accessed and the at least one dataset that has been modified; and updating a set of line dependencies based on the generated set of environmental flags and previously generated sets of environmental flags for one or more previously executed commands.

Increasing amounts of data are being collected and analyzed. Raw data are often in a form that is not immediately useable, and one or more transformations may be applied to the data in sequence to transform them into a more readily useable form. The set of transformation applied may be referred to as a data pipeline, i.e. a data pipeline is a dependency graph of data transformations.
Data pipelines may be difficult to create, particularly when there are multiple and/or branching transformation steps with later steps having dependencies on preceding steps.

Data pipeline creation system and method


It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition containing lactoferrin and another component and having a prominent effect of promoting visceral lipolysis. That is, the present invention is a composition for promoting the lipolysis; a food product, a feedstuff or a pharmaceutical product including (A) lactoferrin and (B) one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of a Durvillaea extract, raspberry ketone, an artichoke leaf extract, a rosemary extract, isoflavone, a grape seed extract, a pine bark extract, a Coleus forskohlii extract, and a cacao extract. Also provided is a method of giving the effect of promoting the lipolysis to the food product or the feedstuff by adding the component (A) and the component (B) for promoting the lipolysis to the food product or the feedstuff.

In modern life, we are chronically in a high nutrient condition, and further tend to accumulate fats in our bodies due to chronic lack of exercise. Visceral fat is a tissue that secrets bad adipocytokines that increase a risk for hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and the like. Thus, materials having a function that reduces the visceral fat effortlessly have been being developed. Catechins that exert their effect by being ingested with exercise (Nonpatent Literature 1) and polyphenols that suppress absorption of fat (Nonpatent Literature 2) are reported to be available as such materials.
Patent Document 1 describes that combination of lactoferrin with a blood circulation accelerator exerts an effect of reducing the visceral fat by suppressing the accumulation of fat.


An object handling apparatus capable of securely holding an object and precisely transferring the held object from a first place to a second place without need of a specific jig for positioning the object on a pallet. A position of an object supplied to the first place is detected by a first visual sensor to obtain a compensation amount for compensating a position displacement of the supplied object. The object is held by a robot hand having position/orientation compensated using the compensation amount and position/orientation of the object held by the robot hand relative to the robot hand is detected by a second visual sensor. A displacement of the position/orientation of the object held by the robot hand from a reference position/orientation is compensated based on the detected position/orientation of the object on the robot hand, so that the object held by the robot hand is precisely moved to have a predetermined position/orientation to be transferred to the second place. The robot hand may be a servo hand having fingers driven by one or more servomotors so that position and force of the fingers in holding the object is controlled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object handling apparatus for handling an object such as a workpiece using a robot to transfer the object from one place to another place.
2. Description of Related Art
For automatically performing machining of workpieces, assembling of parts, etc., robots are used as means for transferring objects such as workpieces and parts from one process to the next process. In the case where the next process is machining of an object by a machine such as a machine tool, it is required that the object is precisely positioned to have a predetermined position/orientation so as to be mounted by an object mounting jig of the machine tool. Similarly, in the case of assembling of parts, it is required that the objects held by the robot is precisely positioned to have a predetermined position/orientation in transferring the object to the next process.
To meet the above requirements, conventionally, the objects are supplied by pallets having positioning devices such as positioning jigs for positioning the objects on the pallets so that the robot holds the objects having predetermined position/orientation. By supplying the objects positioned on the pallets by the positioning devices, the robot securely holds the object at a predetermined holding position/orientation taught in advance. However, there are problems that the pallets equipped with the positioning devices are of high price and a great number of pallets with different kinds of positioning devices have to be prepared for different kinds of objects.
Further, if the object is greatly displaced from the predetermined position/orientation on the pallet by an unexpected cause, the robot fails in holding the object by a robot hand to cause a stoppage of the automatic operation.
Even if the object is held by the robot hand, if position/orientation of the object held by robot hand relative to the robot hand is displaced from the predetermined position/orientation, there arise a problem in transferring the object to the next process. For example, in the case where the next process is machining of the object by the machine such as a machine tool, if there is a displacement of the position/orientation of the object relative to the robot hand, the object can not be mounted on the machine by the object mounting jig.
To cope with the above problem, various kinds of robot hands designed for various shapes and materials of the objects have been prepared so that the position/orientation of the object held by the robot hand relative to the robot hand is not displaced from the predetermined position/orientation. However, it is necessary to prepare a large number of robot hands designed for holding the various kinds of objects, and also rests for placing the large number of robot hands are necessary so that an installing area of the apparatus increases, to rise manufacturing cost of the apparatus and products.


The improvements relate to the connections between the trigger lever (21) and the body (1) of the sprayer device, and to the rod (18) of the pumping piston (17). The rod (18) is coupled to the trigger lever (21), which is snap-inserted, as a fork arrangement, into the body (1) of the sprayer device.

This invention relates to improvements in manual sprayer devices comprising a body fixable to a container containing the liquid to be sprayed, a cylinder in said body, a piston movable within said cylinder, and a trigger-type operating lever which is rotatably mounted in said body and connected to said piston in such a manner as to move it in the two directions and on which there act elastic return means which react against the body and are out of contact with the liquid to be sprayed.
A sprayer device of this type is known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,203 (TADA). In this known device the structure of the trigger lever is particularly complicated and the piston also has a certain constructional complexity. In this respect, the trigger lever upperly comprises two outwardly projecting lugs for its hinging to the body (this requiring the presence of counteracting means between the two lugs to prevent their accidental escape from the body seats in which they are held), two external projections in a middle position for connecting the return spring, an inner shaped thrust surface and grooves or seats for connecting the piston to enable movement to be transmitted to it in the two directions. The piston itself is formed from two parts, one of which comprises transverse pins for connecting the trigger lever and a tang for deforming a gasket.

Manual sprayer devices comprising a trigger lever


A chemical protective suit includes a head portion, a body portion, a pair of arm portions, a pair of leg portions, and a pair of foot portions. The aforementioned portions are integrated into a unitary body. The integrated portion of each two adjacent sheet fabric pieces in each of the foot portions comprises a seam line extending along peripheral edges of two adjacent sheet fabric pieces stacked on each other, with the peripheral edges opposed to each other, and a welded portion of the stacked sheet fabric pieces of a predetermined breadth extending along the seam line, with the peripheral edges and the welded portion disposed to face opposite sides of the seam line. The integrated portion of the two adjacent sheet fabric pieces in each of the foot portions is exposed to the external air.

A chemical protective suit is in use that comprises a head portion for covering the part of a human body extending from the top of the head to the neck, a body portion for covering the part of a human body extending from the chest to the abdomen, a pair of arm portions for covering the parts of a human body extending from the shoulders to the wrists, a pair of leg portions for covering the parts of a human body extending from the abdomen to the calves, and a pair of foot portions for covering the parts of a human body extending from the calves to the toes. The aforementioned portions are integrated into a unitary body by integrating a plurality of sheet fabric pieces.
A pair of gloves for covering the portions of a human body extending from the wrists to the fingers are connected to the chemical protective suit beforehand. Thus, the human body is shut off from the environment when the chemical protective suit is fitted on the human body.


A threading tap for cutting threads in blind holes includes an elongated body with a central axis, the body having at a rear end a connector portion, and having at a front end a threading portion. The threading portion is provided with at least one helical thread-cutting structure and interconnected flank portions defining at least one helical flute which interrupts the helical thread cutting structure. The flank portions present exposed surfaces that are steam tempered. The rest of the tap is coated by PVD.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§ 119 and/or 365 to Patent Application Serial No. 0300224-3 filed in Sweden on Jan. 30, 2003, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a threading tap for cutting threads in blind holes, comprising an elongated body with a central axis and having at a first end a connector portion and at a second end a threading portion. The threading portion is provided with at least one helical thread extending about the circumference of said body. Flank portions of the thread define a helical flute which interrupts the helical thread.
The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a tap.
Such a tap and such a method are known from EP-A-0 641 620 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,626), wherein the tap is provided with a wear resistant coating. However, the known taps suffer from the drawback that chips get entangled in the coated flutes when working in carbon steel, construction steel or stainless steel.

Threading tap for cutting threads in blind holes and methods of its manufacture


A leakage current detector for an electricity supply comprising a plurality of supply conductors supplying a load, the leakage detector comprising a connection from each supply conductor to a common conductor, a circuit for detecting a differential current flowing in the connections, and a circuit arranged to provide an output signal when the differential current reaches a predetermined magnitude.

Residual current devices (RCDs) are widely used for the detection of differential or residual currents flowing in AC and DC systems. These will be familiar to those versed in the art, and examples of such devices are given in International Application No. PCT/EP2011/066450, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
RCDs tend to operate at current levels starting at several milliamperes, but typically not less than 5 mA. However leakage current detectors are generally required to operate at lower current levels, making the use of RCDs impractical for this application.
The principle of operation of leakage current detectors is well known to those versed in the art, and an example of such a device is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,894, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Whilst the detection of leakage currents on AC systems is relatively simple, this is not the case for DC systems, especially a floating DC system as found in photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles.

Leakage current detector for AC and DC systems


A method and apparatus useful in network management which makes intelligent, high speed, connection allocation decisions, overcoming difficulties encountered heretofore and providing enhanced network services. During episodes of network congestion, some connection requests for a class of service of low value and with currently a high number of existing connections may be purposefully ignored (not acknowledged with an Acknowledge (ACK) packet) so that the processing capability of a device will not become overwhelmed, causing the dropping of new connection is to note the numbers of connections of different classes relative to their service-level contracts, to ignore abundant, low-value connection requests in accordance with value policies when and only when necessary, and to insure that valuable new connection requests that conform to their contract connection rates can be intelligently accommodated.

In today's networked world, data communication is a critical resource. Increasing network traffic, driven by the Internet and other emerging applications, strains the capacity of network infrastructures. To keep pace, organizations are looking for better technologies and methodologies to support and manage traffic growth.
Today's dramatic increase in network traffic can be attributed to the popularity of the Internet, a growing need for remote access to information, and emerging applications. The Internet alone, with its explosive growth in e-commerce, has placed a sometimes unsupportable load on network backbones. It is also the single most important cause of increased data traffic volumes that exceed voice traffic for the first time. The growing demands of remote access applications, including e-mail, database access, and file transfer, are further straining networks.
The convergence of voice and data will play a large role in defining tomorrow's network environment. Currently, the costs to a user of the transmission of data over Internet protocol (IP) networks is so low as to almost be free. Because voice communications will naturally follow the path of lowest cost, voice will inevitably converge with data. Technologies such as Voice over IP (VoIP), Voice over ATM (VoATM), and Voice over Frame Relay (VoFR) are cost-effective alternatives in this changing market. However, to make migration to these technologies possible, the industry has to ensure quality of service (QoS) for voice and determine how to charge for voice transfer over data lines. The Telecommunications Deregulation Act of 1996 further complicates this environment. This legislation will reinforce a symbiotic relationship between the voice protocol of choice, ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), and the data protocol of choice, IP (Internet Protocol).
Conventional communications networks may be viewed as being composed of two types of devices: edge resources and connectivity resources. Edge resources may be workstations, servers of various types, data stores and other devices which are sources of and destinations for datagrams by which data is moved across the network. Connectivity resources are those devices which link together edge resources and provide pathways through which datagrams travel in moving between sources and destinations. Both edge and connectivity resources can be viewed as being nodes in or on a network. These views become somewhat complicated by views which distinguish between a network backbone—the principal high speed, high bandwidth "core" of the Internet for example—and the network edges. For example, a device which might be called an edge router exists at the edge of the backbone to provide connectivity between the backbone and some lesser network, which in turn has its edge resources. For purposes of this description, such a device is an edge resource.
In conventional communications networks prior to this invention, bandwidth has been viewed as a dominant issue. Much effort has been directed to broadening bandwidth and to allocating use of bandwidth. A discussion of allocating bandwidth can be found by the interested reader in PCT patent application WO 01/39467 A1 published on 31 May 2001, to which such readers are directed and in which a technology known as Bandwidth Allocation Technology (BAT) is described. In management of conventional networks as there described, flow control is a method or methods (several are described in the publication identified above) for transmitting or discarding frames or packets in a stream of data.
The discussion there and here presupposes certain knowledge of network data communications and apparatus and methods used in such communications networks as has here been briefly mentioned. The discussion also presupposes a fundamental understanding of bit strings known as packets and frames which make up data streams in such network communication. Conventional approaches may provide for classes of data flow to be recognized, as in differentiated services (also known as DiffServ), where each frame or packet (the terms are here used interchangeably) belongs to a class. The default class of service is commonly known as Best Effort. In what is here called Strong Quality of Service, traffic is organized into objects that pass edge-to-edge in network paths—from an origination point to a destination point—as well as in classes. Such paths are often called pipes, and that terminology will be used here.
A switch is a network node that is a connectivity resource which directs datagrams on the basis of Medium Access Control (MAC) addresses, that is, Layer 2 in the OSI model well known to those skilled in the art [see "The Basics Book of OSI and Network Management" by Motorola Codex from Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., 1993]. A switch can also be thought of as a multiport bridge, a bridge being a device that connects two LAN segments together and forwards packets on the basis of Layer 2 data. A router is a network node and connectivity resource that directs datagrams on the basis of finding the longest prefix in a routing table of prefixes that matches the Internet Protocol (IP) destination addresses of a datagram, all within Layer 3 in the OSI model.
A Network Interface Card (NIC) is a device that may interface a network such as the Internet with an edge resource such as a workstation, server, cluster of servers, or server farm. A NIC might classify traffic in both directions for the purpose of fulfilling Service Level Agreements (SLAs) regarding Quality of Service (QoS). At the time of this writing, one definition of a Service Level Agreement is a contract between the provider and the user that specifies the level of service that is expected during its term. SLAs are used by vendors and customers as well as internally by IT shops and their end users. They can specify bandwidth availability, response times for routine and ad hoc queries, response time for problem resolution (network down, machine failure, etc.) as well as attitudes and consideration of the technical staff. SLAs can be very general or extremely detailed, including the steps taken in the event of a failure. Similarly, a definition of Quality of Service is the ability to define a level of performance in a data communications system. For example, ATM networks specify modes of service that ensure optimum performance for traffic such as realtime voice and video. QoS has become a major issue on the Internet as well as in enterprise networks, because voice and video are increasingly travelling over IP-based data networks that were not designed for continuous speech or video. Thus, transmissions are broken into packets that can travel different routes and arrive at different times. A NIC may also switch or route traffic in response to classification results and current congestion conditions. The present description considers a network node to be a switch, a router, a NIC, or, more generally, a machine capable of both switching and routing functions based upon classification results and current congestion conditions.
The number of simultaneous connections, such a TCP sessions, supported by a computer apparatus can be many thousands or millions. In general, however, different connections have different economic values, as determined at least in part by management policies.
The use of simple connection allocation techniques in communications networks has been known in the prior art. In a conventional computer system, connection allocation might be simply to ignore connection requests when the number of current connections of a class reaches a certain level. A more advanced system might ignore requests randomly, with the probability of ignoring requests being periodically updated in response to connection numbers and connection capacity. A drawback with the simple prior art techniques is that the decision to allow or ignore a connection request is made in a device based upon heuristically determined thresholds or functions.
In view of the above, more efficient apparatus and methods are required to make connection allocation decisions in high speed networks.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems and methods are disclosed for propagating notifications between computing environments, such as virtual computing environments. A computing device includes a processor configured to execute a user application in a first virtual computing environment, intercept notification information associated with a notification event associated with the user application, and provide the notification information to a second virtual computing environment.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to computing systems. More particularly, the disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing notifications in a virtual computing environment.
2. Description of Related Art
Certain computing devices are configured to support virtualization, wherein a plurality of logically distinct operating systems are run on a single hardware platform. In virtual computing environments, it is often desirable to display or otherwise provide software and/or hardware-related notifications.

Notification propagation in virtual computing environment


Novel hydrogenated amorphous silicon alloys are disclosed. Hydrogenated amorphous silicon alloys produced by PECVD are disclosed. A method is also disclosed for the preparation of novel hydrogenated amorphous silicon alloys for use as thin films. The method comprises subjecting a mixed gas of gas-phase silicon compounds and other gas-phase alloy element compounds to plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition in a reaction zone such that the alloy formed is deposited on a substrate.

There has been widespread interest in the development of hydrogenated amorphous silicon alloys. Such alloys find application in a variety of devices, although their main application remains in tandem photovoltaic cells (J. M. Ogden, et al., Report at Princeton University Center for Energy and Environmental Study, 231 (February 1989)) and G. H. Lin, et al., Appl. Phys Lett. 55, 386 (1989). Such devices have the capability of producing efficient, economical, large-scale solar to electrical or chemical energy conversion (G. H. Lin, et al., Appl. Phys Lett. 55, 386 (1989)).
However, a solar cell or other device employing an active semiconductor utilizes only a limited portion of the incident energy. For example, photon energy higher than the optical bandgap is not fully utilized and much is wasted as heat, while that lower than the bandgap is not absorbed. Thus, it is of great technological importance to discover semiconductor materials with optical bandgaps that differ from that of amorphous silicon, a substance commonly employed as semiconductor material. Alloying amorphous silicon with various other elements might result in beneficial optical bandgap energies as well as beneficial optical and electrical properties.
In the recent past, several groups have experimented with hydrogenated amorphous silicon alloys for use as semiconductor material. Hydrogenated amorphous silicon alloys have been mainly prepared with the Group IV elements. Thus, alloys such as a-Si:C:H, a-Si:Ge:H, and a-Si:Sn:H have been formed for study (where "a-" indicates amorphous; J. Chevallier, et al., Sol. St. Commun. 24, 867 (1977); K. D. MacKenzie, et al., Phys. Rev. B, 31, 2198 (1985); D. A. Anderson et al., Phil. Mag., 35, 1 (1977); J. Tyczkowski Thin Solid Films, 168, 175 (1989); C. Verie, et al., J. de Phys. Coll. c4, 42, Supp. 10, 667 (1981); and D. Girginoudi, et al., Appl. Phys., 66, 354 (1989)). Except for these materials, very few other amorphous silicon alloys have been characterized, the most widely studied being a-Si:N:H, a-Si:O:H and a-Si:F:H (P. K. Shufflebotham, et al., J. Non. Cryst. Solids, 92, 183 (1987)). Only preliminary results exist on the Group VI (Se, Te) amorphous silicon alloys (F. G. Wakin, et al., J. Non-Cryst. Solid, 53, 11 (1982) and P. K. Shufflebotham, et al., J. Appl. Phys., 60, 2036 (1986)). The Group III alloys (Al, Ga) have not been prepared by the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method (Shufflebotham, et al., supra). Very few tertiary or higher component alloys have been produced (Shufflebotham. et al., supra). For example, an a-Si(Al) alloy has been produced by subjecting polycrystalline silicon to rf sputtering in the presence of pure aluminum (Thompson and Reinhard, et al., J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 37, 325-333 (1980)). An a-Si(Ga) and a-Si(In) alloy have also been prepared by rf sputtering (Le Xu and Foiles, et al., ICAL Magazine B., Vol. 49, #3, (1984)). Although an a-Si(Se) alloy has been prepared by a vacuum evaporation method (Wakim, et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., 42, #6 (15 Mar. 1983)), this and the other alloys mentioned here are not hydrogenated, which is a beneficial aspect of the alloys of this invention. Additionally, a-Si:H,Al alloys were prepared by evaporating pure aluminum and subjecting it to dc glow discharge (Andujar,et al., Solar Energy Materials, 15, 167-173 (1987)); these alloys also exhibited virtually no hydrogen incorporation. And while PECVD has been used elsewhere to prepare a hydrogenated alloy (a-Si:S:H), the alloy formed and the method of preparation employed were distinctly different. (S. Al-Dallal, et. al., Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 114, 789-791 (1989); S. Aljishi, et. al., Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 114, 462-464 (1989)).
Research has centered around the study of the Group IV alloys because these elements closely resemble silicon in chemical properties and, therefore, are expected to readily substitute for silicon in the a-Si:H network, giving rise to high quality, defect-free alloys. However, factors such as disorder induced strain, (S. R. Ovshinsky, et al., Mater. Res. Soc. Spring Meeting San Francisco (1985)) preferential hydrogen bonding to certain elements (A. Morimoto, et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 20, L833 (1981)) differences in atomic size, etc., cause heterostructure silicon alloys to be formed. Where these factors come into play, the bonding configuration of the alloying Group IV element is quite different from the expected tetrahedral one. For example, Ge shows a tendency towards divalency in the a-Si:Ge:H alloys, (S. R. Ovshinsky Physical Properties of Amorphous Materials 105 (1985)) whereas carbon favors graphitic bonding in the high concentration a-Si:C:H alloys (T. Shimada, et al. J. Appl. Phys., 50, 5530 (1979)).
Thus, to improve silicon alloy properties for use as semiconductor materials, it would be highly advantageous to form alloys of Group IV elements and alloys comprising other than the traditional Group IV elements.
Good candidates for amorphous silicon alloys are elements with bond lengths and bond strengths similar to silicon. Thus, Se, as well as a variety of other elements, are good candidates as alloys. For example, selenium was selected as a candidate for forming an amorphous silicon alloy because the bond lengths and bond strengths of the two elements are similar. The magnitude of both Si-Si and Se-Se bond lengths is 1.17 .ANG. (F. A. Cotton, et al., Basic Inorganic Chemistry (Wiley, N.Y. 1976). The corresponding bond strength is E.sub.Si-Si =78.1 kcal/mol (C. Chatillon, et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Ser. C280 (1975) 1505 and E.sub.Se-Se =79.5 kcal/mol (J. Drowart, et al. J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 2 72 (1977) 1755.
Another important reason for the selection of an element such as selenium as the alloying element is the possibility of forming a wide or narrow bandgap material. When exposed to photon energy much higher than its optical bandgap, an alloy with a narrow bandgap is unable to fully utilize this energy, and part of it is wasted as heat. Similarly, incident energy lower than the bandgap of an alloy with a narrow bandgap is not absorbed. Thus, it would be highly advantageous and commercially beneficial to discover alloys with wide or narrow bandgaps, which materials would utilize a broader range of incident energies.
Wakim et al. (F. G. Wakim, et al. J. Non-Cryst. Solids 53 (1982)) studied the photoelectronic properties of a-Si:Se alloys. The main conclusion of the study was that selenium has the same effect as that of hydrogen in a-Si:H, i.e., reducing the dangling bond density. The hydrogenated form of Si-Se alloys (a-Si:Se:H) has not yet been examined.
One very important feature of potential alloying components to be considered when preparing elements for use as thin films is whether the alloying component is available as a gas-phase compound (i.e., H.sub.2 Se). Using components in the gaseous form will allow better mixing of components, for alloys generally and for thin films specifically, and result in more homogeneous alloys and more homogeneous films when applied to an appropriate substrate. Thus, the alloying components contemplated by this invention are capable of being prepared as gas-phase alloy element compounds. This is a requirement for the selected alloy preparation method, i.e., plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). This technique is also known by the term "rf glow discharge." Other techniques that may be employed to form similar alloys (i.e., dc glow discharge, hot wire assisted CVD and electron cyclotron resonance plasma deposition) exist and also use gas-phase components.
With these considerations in mind, three new materials were selected for preparation as semiconductor alloys: a-Si:Se:H; a-Si:Al:C:H, and a-Si:Ga:C:H. These alloys were chosen because of the possibility they provide of forming both high and low energy gap materials.


The separation profile results of capillary zone electrophoresis can be analyzed very rapidly, e.g., in 45 seconds or less, if the results are analyzed using a successive subtracting procedure to establish the separation profile as a function of time and projecting this separation profile forward in time to quantitatively analyze the separate species in the profile. The projection step can be accomplished using an algorithm along with or without Fourier transform (FT) techniques and the quantitative analysis can be carried out using principle component regression analysis (PCA) or suitable calibration procedures.

The invention relates to the rapid analysis of analyte solutions.
Chromatographic methods can be used to separate components in a sample mixture to determine identity and quantity of each component in the sample. Chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques that are typically used to analyze complex mixtures include gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, thin layer chromatography, electrophoresis, and capillary electrophoresis. These techniques are relatively time consuming, since they require some degree of separation of the components in order to identify and quantify them.
Complex chromatographic patterns have been analyzed using principal component regression analysis, as described, for example, in Jellum, et al. Journal of Pharm. Biomed. Analysis, 9(8):663-669 (1991). Other processing techniques have been used to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio in chromatograms. See, for example, Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,536.


This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackTwelve’, particularly characterized by having medium to high vigor, medium-sized, black fruit and medium to high yield, is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry cultivar designated 'DrisBlackTwelve' and botanically known as Rubus L. subgenus Rubus. This new blackberry variety was identified in Santa Cruz County, Calif. in June 2008 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent blackberry plant 'BM711 (858A5)' (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent blackberry plant 'BJ111.1' (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was first asexually propagated by tissue culture and root cuttings at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, Calif. 'DrisBlackTwelve' was subsequently asexually propagated by tissue culture and root cuttings and underwent further testing at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, Calif. from 2012 to 2014. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations.

Blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackTwelve’


The invention proposes an electrical device for attachment to a holder, particularly in a vehicle, wherein the electrical device is attached on the one side by means of a hook connector and on the other side by means of a detent mechanism, preferably a pivoting ratchet. The detent mechanism can be secured by means of a lock so as to prevent unauthorized removal of the electrical device, which is preferably a display unit.

The invention is based on an electrical device for attachment to a holder. A holder, in particular for a monitor in a vehicle, is already known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,049. In it, an electrical device in the form of a monitor is slid into a clamp mounted to a vehicle roof and after being slid into place, is secured by means of a lock. When the monitor is being mounted, it must be moved along the clamp along the entire sliding path, i.e. in accordance with its length. In addition, when the monitor is being mounted, the monitor, which is above the head of the installer, must be inserted into the clamp provided for the holder in a precisely fitting manner.

Electrical appliance to be mounted on a retainer


An extension table with multiple legs with two table tops sliding back and forth in relation to each other and at least one leaf and at least four supporting members each comprising at least two table legs, including a first table leg and a second table leg. The supporting members support the extension table when the sliding table tops are joined in a first position, and they support the extension table when the sliding table tops are pulled apart in a second position. The first table legs in each supporting member are directly or indirectly connected to the sliding table tops through fasteners which, in one embodiment, comprise sliding means.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,086,941 discloses an extension table with multiple legs having four corners each comprising supporting members, said supporting members comprising four legs that are separated when the table is extended so that two of the legs stay in place while the two remaining legs follow the leaf, thereby supporting the extended leaf. However, when the table is made of a living material like wood, the system is problematic. Since wood extends and contracts due to inter alia humidity and temperature as well as the characteristics of the chosen material, it is ascertained that for every two meters of a table, the table may extend and/or contract by two centimeters as a consequence of the outer conditions. Naturally, this creates tension in the table and may result in the collapse or cracking of the table or parts of the table.
Additionally, there is a risk of the table not being stable when assembled when a supporting leg leans compared to the leg with which it belongs. Consequently, the two concurrent legs may not be as supporting and stabilising as they would otherwise be when assembled. Furthermore, there is a risk of the table being unstable when the legs are separated, whereby the legs wobble, especially when the ground is uneven.


Apparati, methods, and computer readable media for enabling two parties (1,2) to exchange encrypted messages, exchange symmetric cryptographic keys, and perform functions of public key cryptography. First and second key exchange algorithms use commuting pairs of subsets of a monoid. The first key exchange algorithm has four principal embodiments. In three of the embodiments, a set of matrices over a hyperbolic ring is used as the monoid. In the fourth embodiment, a braid group is used as the monoid. The second key exchange algorithm has five principal embodiments. In four of the embodiments, a set of matrices over a hyperbolic ring is used as the monoid. In the fifth embodiment, a braid group is used as the monoid.

Diffie-Hellman key exchange, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,770, is a well known example of how two parties can exchange a cryptographic key. Diffie-Hellman key exchange is itself not a public key cryptosystem. Embodiments of the present invention, on the other hand, are public key cryptosystems. In a public key cryptosystem, two parties wishing to communicate securely, e.g., over an open network such as the Internet, each have a private key, known only to the party, and a mathematically related public key that is made publicly available. It is computationally infeasible to derive the private key from the public key. A first party wishing to communicate securely with a second party encrypts plaintext with the public key of the second party and sends the resulting ciphertext to the second party. The second party then decrypts the ciphertext with the second party's private key to retrieve the plaintext. Public key cryptography can also be used for authentication of digital documents, including over open networks.
One drawback of public key cryptography is that it is relatively slow compared with symmetric key cryptography, in which the same key is used for encryption and decryption. Therefore, public key cryptography is often used, not to encrypt the entire plaintext, but to exchange between the parties a symmetric key. The symmetric key is then used to encrypt the plaintext and decrypt the resulting ciphertext.
The Diffie-Hellman method is based on the apparent difficulty in computing logarithms over a finite field GF(q) having a prime number q of elements. For two communicating parties i and j, the Diffie-Hellman method uses a key K=aXiXj mod q, where "mod" denotes a modulo operation. Modulo is similar to the operation of obtaining a remainder in an arithmetic division. In the Diffie-Hellman method, a party i publishes in a public location the value Yi=aXi mod q, where Xi is a private undisclosed positive integer. To communicate with a party j, party i obtains a key Kij by computing Kij=(Yj)Xi mod q. Similarly, party j obtains the key Kij by computing Kij=(Yi)Xj mod q.
The Diffie-Hellman method has been widely used for the last 25 years, but the existence of a subexponential algorithm (called the index calculus), which can attack Diffie-Hellman, forces Diffie-Hellman users to employ longer key sizes in order to stay secure against increasing computing powers. Hence, it is desirable to have a key exchange algorithm for which an index calculus or similar attack algorithm doesn't exist. The present invention, which uses subsets with certain commuting property, solves this problem.

Cryptosystems using commuting pairs in a monoid


A hand operated crimping tool comprising a body arranged between a distal end and a proximal end of the crimping tool, a tool head arranged distally on the crimping tool, and handles arranged proximally on the crimping tool, where at least one handle is pivotally arranged, and where the relative movement of the tool handles is connected to the relative movement of crimping dies, between which crimping dies at least one workpiece is arranged to be crimped. The tool head comprises a main head part and a pivotable head part, where the movement of the pivotally arranged handle(s) is connected to the movement of the pivotable head part via the body and a mechanism, whereby the pivotable head part of the tool head is movable between an open head position and a closed head position depending on the relative position of the tool handles.

When crimping, a connector i.e. a terminal, splice, contact or a similar device is mechanically secured to at least one cable—e.g to a conductor such as a wire—by deformation so that a solid joint having reliable mechanical and electrical connection is formed. The crimping operation resulting in a crimped joint is performed using crimping dies. Crimping tools may e.g. be hand operated.
In hand operated hand held crimping tools, the crimping tool is usually arranged with two proximally on the crimping tool arranged handles which are movable in relation to each other, where when the user brings the handles towards each other using hand force, usually using one hand only which when placed around both of the handles is squeezed together, the usually distally on the crimping tool arranged crimping dies are brought together in order to crimp at least one workpiece between them.
Crimping tools of the above mentioned kind may be arranged with an open head or a closed head. In a tool having an open head, the head has to be much stronger than in a tool having a closed head in order to withstand the same amount of maximum crimping force, this due to that an open head design is less rigid than a closed head design and will flex more easily during crimping.
A crimping tool with a closed head will thus be lighter than a crimping tool with an open head designed for the same amount of maximum crimping force if the crimping tools are made of the same material, this resulting in less load on the user.
A crimping tool with an open head shows on the other hand the advantage that it is possible to e.g. crimp together the ends of two very long wires and thereafter to remove the crimping tool away from the crimped wires without having to pull the crimped wires through the head of a crimping tool as in a tool having a closed head. Further, if the "non-crimped" ends of the two crimped wires are not free which e.g. is the case when these ends already are fixed to e.g. a respective electrical distribution box, it is impossible to remove the crimped wires after crimping from a tool having a closed head.
DE 298 03 336 U1 shows a hand crimping tool with a head which head may be opened up when crimping is not in progress in order to be able to move a workpiece sideways into the head and in order to facilitate the exchange of crimping dies. The head is kept closed during crimping.


The invention captures harvestable mechanical energy, e.g., in the form of wind or moving water, and uses it for electrical generation or other work. In various embodiments a turbine is used to pressurize a fluid, and the pressurized fluid is then optionally stored and then used to drive an electric generator. Because the pressurized fluid can be stored in a pressurized state indefinitely, the invention provides a straightforward way to accumulate the mechanical energy until it is needed. Additionally, the invention allows portions of the system, e.g., a pressure vessel or generator, to be located away from the turbine, reducing the costs of deploying and maintaining the system.

Currently wind turbines have gearboxes that are prone to mechanical failure. The metal gears and shafts can be bent or snapped, and the lubricating fluids can ignite because of the intense temperatures produced once the gearbox begins to fail. Maintenance to prevent such failures is a substantial ongoing cost in electrical wind production. Furthermore, the gearboxes are typically located at a substantial height (i.e., the top of the wind tower), which further complicates maintenance activities. Additionally, the extra weight of a gearbox requires the use of reinforced turbine towers, further increasing construction costs, and making offshore installation substantially more costly.

Power transfer and generation using pressurized fluids


The invention relates to a washing device for a glass pane in a vehicle, having a washing-water line which runs along the lower edge of the glass pane and at least one washing-water nozzle which is connected to the washing-water line. In order to obtain a reduced installation space for the washing-water device in the vehicle and in order to comply with regulations relating to the protection of pedestrians, the washing-water nozzle comprises an elongate pipe section and an elongate, flat valve housing which is flange-connected to the pipe section and in which are arranged at least one spray opening with an opening axis which runs transverse to the housing axis, and also a non-return valve which is arranged upstream of the spray opening. In order to connect the washing-water nozzle to the washing-water line, the washing-water nozzle is inserted into said washing-water line in an intersection point of the washing-water line such that the pipe section connects to one another two line portions which are produced by the intersection point.

The invention relates to a washing device for a glass pane in a vehicle, in particular for a windshield of a motor vehicle.
DE 92 01 119 U1 discloses a washing device, two ducts which run in the longitudinal direction are provided in a plastic panel which extends over the width of the windshield between the rear edge of the engine hood and the windshield. The ducts each extend from one end of the panel to the center, and each is connected to a washing-fluid feed line by means of a connection nipple. The longitudinal ducts are provided with holes at defined locations. The heated washing-fluid nozzles are each equipped with a non-return valve and are produced in the form of autonomous units. Also, the nozzles each have a connection piece which is inserted into one of the holes in the longitudinal duct such that the spray opening in the washing-fluid nozzle points toward the windshield.
DE 43 04 661 C2 discloses a glass-pane washing system for a motor vehicle, in which the washing-fluid line is formed by a soft, elastic plastic hose which has an approximately pear-shaped profile, in the central region of which runs a flow duct for the washing fluid. At the level of a washing-fluid nozzle, the wall region of the plastic hose is provided with an opening which reaches into the flow duct and whose axis runs radially with respect to the flow duct. A connection pipe which is connected to a nozzle body is inserted into this radial opening. The spray opening is formed in the nozzle body. Two heating conductors are embedded parallel to the flow duct in that region of the wall of the plastic hose which faces away from the radial openings. These heating conductors are connected to a power source and heat up the washing fluid flowing in the flow duct. In addition, the region of the nozzle body is also heated by means of a PTC element.
The invention is based on the object of specifying a washing device for a glass pane in a vehicle, which satisfies the requirement for a reduced installation space and also the regulations relating to the protection of pedestrians.
According to the invention, the object is achieved by a washing device for a glass pane in a vehicle. This washing device preferably includes a washing-fluid line which runs along a lower edge of the glass pane, and a washing-fluid nozzle which is connected to the washing-fluid line. The washing-fluid nozzle may include a spray opening, a non-return valve which is arranged upstream of the spray opening, a pipe section, and a valve housing. The valve housing contains the non-return valve and is connected to the outside of the pipe section with its housing axis parallel to the axis of the pipe section. The spray opening is arranged in the valve housing with its opening normal transverse to the housing axis. The pipe section is inserted into an intersection point of the washing-fluid line.
The washing device according to the invention has the advantage that the at least one washing-fluid nozzle which is produced in the form of an autonomous unit is of very flat construction in spite of the integration of a non-return valve and has a transverse extent which is no greater or is only slightly greater than the external extent of the washing-fluid line. As a result, a multiplicity of washing-fluid nozzles can be very effectively placed in the receptacle which is held at the front of the vehicle, and this receptacle has to provide only one installation space which is adapted to the washing-fluid line. The washing-fluid nozzles of flat construction do not form, in the area surrounding the glass pane, any protruding projections which may potentially injure pedestrians if they collide with the engine hood.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the pipe section and valve housing are produced from a material which conducts heat well, and a continuous, insulated heating wire is laid in the interior of the washing-fluid line. Laying the heating wire into the flow interior of the washing-fluid line which carries the washing fluid may firstly allows the wall of the washing-fluid line to be kept relatively thin, so that a small outside diameter of the washing-fluid line is obtained. Secondly, the heating wire can be led through the pipe section of the washing-fluid nozzle without any problems. This saves both production and assembly costs for an additional heating system of the washing-fluid nozzle, and also saves installation space. The flat construction of the valve housing means that the heating wire laid in this way is situated very close to the spray opening. As a result, in conjunction with the heat-conducting material of the pipe section and valve housing, the region of the spray opening is very effectively heated. An additional PCT heating element, as is used to prevent icing of the spray opening the washing nozzles of the conventional washing system, may be dispensed with, so that a further cost reduction is achieved for the heated washing-fluid nozzle.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spray opening is integrated in a separate spray module which is exchangeably inserted in a housing opening in the valve housing whose opening normal or opening axis runs transverse to the housing axis. In this case, the housing opening is preferably surrounded by a collar which is formed on the valve housing and into which the spray module can be clipped. The advantage of this design is that only the spray module needs to be exchanged in order to restore operation of the washing-fluid nozzle when the spray opening is blocked. It is possible to carry out the exchanging process very quickly and conveniently as a result of the spray module simply clipping into the valve housing.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the washing-fluid line is a flexible hose which has at least two hose sections which are each connected to one another by one pipe section. The hose is placed in a shaft which is open at the top, and has a U-shaped cross section. In the shaft wall, which is relatively close to the glass pane, at least one cutout is provided into which the spray opening projects. The shaft is an integral constituent part of a lower cover which, together with a part of an engine hood which rests on said cover, encloses an air duct. When the engine hood is closed, the shaft is covered by this engine hood from above. This type of integration of the washing device into the vehicle is convenient in terms of assembly and does not require a large installation space. The washing-fluid nozzles which are integrated in the profile of the hose are simply positioned at the existing cutouts in the shaft and are fixed there, with a spraying direction which points through the cutouts.
A washing-fluid nozzle according to one further embodiment of the invention may have a collar which protrudes radially out from the valve housing and serves the purpose of clipping in the spray module. The collar may also be used to positively secure the washing-fluid nozzle in the cutout in the shaft.
The invention is described in more detail in the text which follows with reference to an exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in the drawing.

Washing device for a glass pane in a motor vehicle