A construction kit for constructing a play structure. The play structure for providing children a place to play includes: a square-shaped, planar horizontal support member; plurality of legs; an octagonal-shaped, concave floor member; an octagonal-shaped, planar floor member; a plurality of vertical support members; a substantially convex ceiling member; two staircases; and a flag pole, removably coupleable to a top side of the ceiling member, and configured to hang a flag thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to construction kits, specifically a construction kit for constructing a play structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art it has been known to use structures whereupon children may engage in recreation safely. Different themed structures have been used to attract the interest of children and further enable them to engage in imaginative and fun-filled recreation. There is a need for attractive, safe, affordable and versatile structures whereupon children may recreate. Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples include but are not limited to the references described below, which references are incorporated by reference herein:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,328, issued to Robinson, discloses a plastic building element is described which permits a variety of play structures to be assembled. The main building element is a dish-shaped molded plastic part, having a bottom, integral lower side walls projecting generally upwardly from the outer periphery of the bottom to define a lower portion of one nominal diameter, integral generally horizontal portions projecting outwardly from the top of the lower side walls, and integral upper side walls projecting generally upwardly from the outer periphery of the horizontal portion to define an upper portion having a substantially larger nominal diameter. Preferably, the side walls are defined by a number of generally rectangular panels defining a polygonal shape for the building element as viewed in horizontal section. In the preferred embodiment, the structure is hexagonal. The building element can be used in its simplest application as a children's sandbox, or assembled to define play cavities in the form of more elaborate structures such as a "spaceship" or a "gumball machine".
U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,021, issued to Ferrara, discloses a device starting from flat partly assembled components, this shelter, when erected, includes tubular roof-reinforcing and attachment beams disposed against roof segments and sidewalls.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,116, issued to Buchanan, discloses a building, constructed from prefabricated building components, where the roof and floor components are formed from substantially similar triangle-shaped components. The roof and floor components are sequentially assembled and integrally fastened to the center support column of the building, so that the plan view of the building structure has the form of a polygon. The floor components are each supported at the perimeter of the polygon by vertically adjustable support columns which allow for construction of the building on uneven terrain with minimum site preparation. The roof components are supported at the perimeter of the polygon by fixed vertical posts, between which posts may be included structural prefabricated wall components.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,851, issued to Delgado, discloses a portable playground system including a cylindrical base member having four openings therethrough disposed at ninety degree intervals therearound intermediate upper and lower ends thereof. The base member has a floor disposed interiorly thereof disposed at lower ends of the four openings. A top member is dimensioned for removable coupling with the upper end of the cylindrical base member. Stairs, ladders and slides are adapted for removably coupling with the four openings.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: US 2002/0193046, by Zebersky, discloses a modular house toy includes a fixed supporting structure made of a solid floor, a solid ceiling, a solid back wall connecting the floor to the ceiling, and an open arch connecting the floor to the ceiling. The back wall and/or the arch permanently connect the floor to the ceiling in respective connection planes. A modular house toy configuration includes at least two fixed supporting structures. One fixed supporting structure is removably connected to another in six positions. Preferably, the floor and the ceiling have the same shape and the back wall and the arch have the same shape to allow repetitious and modular interlocking of one modular house toy to another module house toy. Wall and arch extensions are inserted into floor depressions and other wall and arch extensions are inserted into ceiling depressions to connect the floor to the ceiling.
U.S. Design Pat. No.: 372,757, issued to Martin et al., discloses the ornamental design for an activity gym.
The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages which include unappealing, expensive and/or limited in use.
What is needed is a construction kit that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.

Construction kit for constructing a play structure


A system and method for image contrast enhancement using sub-segments. A coarse piecewise linear transform is formed based on the intensity distribution in an image, the segments of the piecewise linear transform selected to produce, when the piecewise linear transform is applied to the image, an improved intensity distribution, e.g., one approximating a Rayleigh distribution. A fine piecewise linear transform is formed by forming sub-segments at each of the breakpoints of the coarse piecewise linear transform.

1. Field
One or more aspects of embodiments according to the present invention relate to image processing and more particularly to contrast enhancement in video produced by infrared (IR) detectors.
2. Description of Related Art
Infrared imaging systems, and especially systems with high-definition (HD) mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) detectors and slow optics, may have narrow dynamic ranges, resulting in images that if displayed directly to a human viewer will appear to contain only barely distinguishable shades of grey. Moreover, an image with a single hot spot target in the field of view (FOV) may result in a gain decrease to avoid saturation at the hot spot, which may in turn result in reduced contrast over the remainder of the image. Another example of a scene that may result in a poor quality image in a short wavelength infrared (SWIR) system is a scene containing lights and a black background. In this situation also, the overall gain may be reduced to avoid saturation at the lights, resulting in poor contrast in the surrounding areas.
Contrast enhancement stages, using, e.g., a piecewise linear transform (PLT), may be used to generate images that have a greater range of brightness values, or "intensity" values, and are more useful to the viewer. In a piecewise-linear-transform, however, if two adjacent segments have a large gain differential, small changes in the scene, or noise, may cause an input pixel to be mapped alternately to one or the other of the two adjacent segments, causing unacceptable flicker in the output image. This tendency to produce flicker may be reduced by implementing a segment-to-segment (STS) gain limit for all except the end segments, but this approach limits dynamic range at the output of the contrast enhancement stage, thereby limiting the contrast enhancement available.
Thus, there is a need for a system and method for contrast enhancement, which provides significant contrast enhancement without introducing unacceptable image flicker.

Video contrast enhancement with sub-segments


A system for monitoring an outdoor heat exchange coil of a heating or cooling system includes a neural network for computing the status of the coil. The neural network is trained during a development mode to learn certain characteristics of the heating or cooling system that will allow it to accurately compute the status of the coil. The thus trained neural network timely computes the status of the outdoor heat exchange coil during a run time mode of operation. Information as to the status of the coil is made available for assessment during the run time mode of operation.

This invention relates to monitoring the operation of a heating or cooling system, and more specifically to monitoring the condition of an outdoor heat exchanger coil for such systems.
Many heating and/or cooling systems employ heat exchanger coils located outside of the buildings that are to be heated or cooled by these particular systems. These outdoor heat exchanger coils are typically exposed to a variety of severe conditions. These conditions may include exposure to airborne contaminants that may result in mineral deposits forming on the surface of the coils. The outdoor heat exchanger coils may also be placed at ground level so as to thereby be exposed to wind blown dust or the splashing of dirt during heavy rain storms. The accumulation of dust, dirt, mineral deposits and other contaminants on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger coil will ultimately produce an insulating effect on the coil. This will reduce the heat heat transfer efficiency of the coil, which will in turn impact the capacity of the heating or cooling system to accomplish its respective function.
It is important to detect any significant degradation of the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger coil before its heat exchange performance is adversely affected. This is normally accomplished by a visual inspection of the outdoor coil that is usually performed by a service person, who may be maintaining or servicing the heating or cooling system. This servicing may not always occur in a timely fashion.

System for monitoring outdoor heat exchanger coil


A measure of security is provided by determining authenticity of an object (e.g., credit card, cell phone, car keys, etc.) by letting the object predict at which nodes multiple specific data packets are going to be in a distributed network in the next time slot.

Web-based applications are flooding into areas that can benefit from enhanced security. Examples of such Web-based applications include: commercial transactions over the Internet (e.g., the purchase and sale of goods), on-line banking (e.g., electronic funds transfer), and medical transactions (e.g., provision of medical records in emergency situations), etc.
The security of information and transactions has been identified as a significant problem. At the center of the problem are crackers: individuals who seek to access computers, such as Web servers, so as to conduct pranks, vandalism, espionage or other illegitimate activities. Web security responds to these activities and, among other things, strives to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of information, both as resident on servers and as communicated in Web transactions. Increasing the vulnerability to crackers is that the Web is an open system available to anyone in possession of readily available, affordable technology.
An important security issue is authentication. While authentication takes various forms, authentication of individuals is particularly desirable. This authentication is directed to verifying that the individual seeking access to and/or through a server is in fact who that individual claims to be, and not an impersonator. This authentication relies on verification being performed at or above a predetermined minimum level of confidence. At the same time, authentication is generally an early hurdle that the individual must clear to conduct transactions with the server.
An example of an authentication tool is a token. The token is, e.g., a small handheld device or copy-protected software loaded onto a PC. Authentication tokens operate by query/response, time-based code sequences, or other techniques, such as lists of one-time-only passwords, etc. For example, it displays a constantly changing ID code that can be used to get access to a network or server. A user first enters a password and then the card displays an ID that is valid for logging on to a network until the ID changes, which can be every 5 minutes. The ID's usually are determined through a pseudo-random generator. Pseudo-random generators and algorithms to generate pseudo-random numbers are well known. The generator in the token is mirrored by a generator in the server or the network to ensure that the both agree on what is a valid ID for the time window considered.
The fact that the server and token operate in lock-step and each time produce the same ID the same time implies that the server and token are using identical algorithms. Servers can be hacked. The algorithm used by tokens commercially available in large batches from a manufacturer can be stolen or otherwise discovered, e.g., by disassembling a token. Moreover, the validity of the token is tied to a finite time window. Eavesdropping on the ID communication may enable an unauthorized person to ride piggyback on the authorized person in this window of opportunity to enter the secure server or network.
Accordingly, one could say that a need exists for alternative security measures, and methods to implement such measures. Moreover, a need exists for alternative authentication systems and methods.

Object identification uses prediction of data in distributed network


An absorbent article and method are disclosed for providing side leakage protection for an undergarment and absorbent article positioning guidance for proper placement on the undergarment. In one embodiment, an absorbent cuff pad is configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman with cuffs for receiving a crotch portion of an undergarment. In one embodiment, an absorbent pad and liquid-impermeable baffle are provided with stiffening means for a pair of garment-attachment nesting ridges for receiving an arcuately shaped crotch portion of an undergarment. In one embodiment, an absorbent configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman, a liquid-impermeable baffle, and stiffening means for multiple pairs of garment-attachment nesting ridges receive and protect an arcuately shaped crotch portion of an undergarment. Arcuately shaped pleats on a bottom lateral side surface of the absorbent article form the nesting ridges. In one embodiment, a pressure sensitive adhesive provides force to support the cuffs or the nesting ridges holding the undergarment in place during use. In one aspect, the absorbent article provides two or three or more garment-attachment nesting ridge pairs.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to an absorbent article and method for protecting a user by absorbing or containing body fluids including menstrual fluids or other body exudates. In one aspect, this invention relates to an absorbent article and method having side leakage protection and novel means and method for positioning and fastening the absorbent article to an undergarment.
2. Background of the Invention
Many different absorbent products for the absorption of human body fluids are available in the form of feminine pads, sanitary napkins, panty shields, panty liners, and incontinence devices. Feminine care sanitary protection absorbent products absorb body fluids, including menses, and come in different functional designs. Sanitary napkins and feminine pads externally worn about the pudendal area are absorbent pads designed primarily for menstrual flow. Panty liners or panty shields are thin sanitary napkin products worn about the pudendal area for light menstrual flow. Incontinence protection absorbent products absorb body fluids including urine.
Absorbent products for the absorption of human body fluids have an absorbent positioned between a liquid-permeable body-side cover and a liquid-impermeable garment-facing baffle. These absorbent products for the absorption of human body fluids include a top layer of the liquid-permeable body-side cover, a middle layer of the absorbent, and a bottom layer of the liquid-impermeable garment-facing baffle. A pressure sensitive adhesive is secured to the baffle and used to attach the product to an inner crotch portion of an undergarment.

Undergarment protection article and method


A power consumption control device for detecting output of a pulse signal from an output terminal of an oscillator as an operation monitoring target and outputting a power consumption reduction signal when the pulse signal is not detected in a predetermined period of time, includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor which are connected in series and have a gate to which the output terminal is connected, and detecting means for detecting a through current flowing through the p-type transistor and n-type transistor, and outputs a power consumption reduction signal when the through current is not detected in a predetermined period of time.

The present invention relates to a signal detection method, a power consumption control method, a signal detecting device and a power consumption control device that detect input of a signal to an input terminal; a frequency detection method and a frequency detecting device that detect the frequency of the signal; a signal detection method, a power consumption control method, a signal detecting device and a power consumption control device that detect whether a signal inputted to an input terminal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately, or in a second state in which the signal is kept at a high level or a low level; and an electronic apparatus comprising the power consumption control device.
In an apparatus for processing a signal inputted from outside, when a signal to be processed is not inputted, the apparatus is not operating, but a bias current or the like continues to flow, and therefore electric power is often wastefully consumed. For example, when no signal is inputted, a pre-scaler used in a PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) or the like is not operating, but a bias current continues to flow.
In order to reduce such wasteful power consumption, the state of the signal is monitored, and when the signal is stopped, a power consumption reduction signal is outputted to block the bias current or the like (see Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2000-224015). For example, with the use of a power consumption control device that outputs a power save signal (power consumption reduction signal) when it detects that no signal is outputted to a pre-scaler from an oscillator, an attempt is made to reduce power consumption by blocking the bias current in the pre-scaler when it is not operating.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the essential structure of an electronic apparatus comprising a power consumption control device. A power consumption control device 6 is connected to an output terminal CL of an oscillator 4 which is an operation monitoring target. A clock signal similar to a signal supplied to a pre-scaler, not shown, is outputted from the output terminal CL. In the power consumption control device 6, one of the terminals of a resistor R8 is connected via an input terminal Vin to the output terminal CL of the oscillator 4, and a capacitor C8 is connected between the other terminal of the resistor R8 and a ground terminal VGD. The node of the resistor R8 and capacitor C8 is connected to a non-inverted input terminal of a comparator 2. Moreover, a reference voltage terminal Vrf is connected to an inverted input terminal of the comparator 2, and the output terminal of the comparator 2 is connected to a power save signal output terminal PS through two inverters INV1 and INV2. The power save signal output terminal PS can be connected, for example, to a power supply device (not shown) to stop power supply to the pre-scaler from the power supply device or reduce the supply voltage, or can be connected, for example, to a pre-scaler (not shown) to give an operation stop signal or a standby signal to the pre-scaler.
In the example of FIG. 1, the clock signal outputted from the CL terminal of the oscillator 4 is integrated by the resistor R8 and capacitor C8 and then outputted to the comparator 2, so when the clock signal is inputted and repeatedly going to a high state and a low state alternately, the power save signal goes high. When the clock signal is stopped in a low state, the power save signal goes low. However, when the clock signal is stopped in a high state, the power save signal goes high similarly to the input of the clock signal, and thus there is the problem that power saving cannot be achieved.
As a method of solving this problem, there is a method in which the DC component of the clock signal outputted from the oscillator 4 is cut. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the essential structure of an electronic apparatus comprising other power consumption control device in which a capacitor C9 is connected between the above-described input terminal Vin and resistor R8 of the power consumption control device 8. Note that the circuit shown in FIG. 2 has the same structure as the circuit of FIG. 1, except for the capacitor C9. In the example shown in FIG. 2, since the DC component of the clock signal inputted to the input terminal Vin of the power consumption control device 8 is cut, even when the clock signal is stopped in a high state, the power save signal is low. However, since there is no path for actively discharging the charge accumulated in the capacitor C8, it will take a long time until the power save signal goes low after the clock signal was stopped in a high state, and consequently there is the problem that power saving cannot be achieved quickly.
Further, in the Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2000-224015, since different circuits are used to detect the clock signal stopped in a high state and the clock signal stopped in a low state, respectively, it is possible to certainly output a power save signal irrespective of the stopped state of the clock signal. However, this technique has the problem that the circuit becomes larger in size.

Signal detection method, frequency detection method, power consumption control method, signal detecting device, frequency detecting device, power consumption control device and electronic apparatus


What is described is a sash-style apparatus that can be comprised of two strips of material. The two strips of material can be configured such that in one configuration the first strip of material lies substantially behind the second strip of material and in a second configuration, the two strips of material can be minimally parted to reveal the mother's nipple and allow an infant to breastfeed. The mother can feed and bond with her infant, without exposing her breast.

1. Field of the Invention
This description relates generally to the area of nursing and more specifically to a nursing cover.
2. Background
It is important to the bonding process between mother and child that mothers breastfeed their infants. However, societal norms generally discourage breastfeeding in public without covering the mother's exposed breast. To accommodate this societal norm, most nursing mothers elect to cover both their exposed breast and the nursing infant with a blanket draped over one shoulder.
While the draped blanket accomplishes the task of covering the mother's exposed breast, it detracts from the bonding process between the mother and child, as the nursing infant and mother are unable to easily look at each other and thus bond.
What is needed is an apparatus that allows the child to nurse while both covering the mother's breast and allowing the mother and child to view each other during the nursing process.


A cage for receiving a multiple dosage feeder is provided. The multiple dosage feeder includes a food holding feeder member and a feeder housing member disposed in an opening in the cage. The food holding member holds a plurality of measured dosages of food or other substances, and at least a portion of the food holding member extends to the cage-interior side of the opening. A snap lock releasably secures the feeder housing member to the wall of the multiple dosage feeder. At least a portion of the food holding member is rotatable within the housing member so as to expose the single dosage of the plurality of dosages, while the housing member prevents access to any remaining dosages on the cage-interior side of the opening.

This invention relates generally to a cage for use with a multiple dosage feeder for an animal cage, which selectively exposes one of a plurality of precise dosages of food or other substances to an animal within the cage while covering the remaining dosages, and more particularly to a door and lock mechanism capable of receiving the multiple dosage feeder.
Animals used in laboratory experiments and housed in cages must be supplied with a nutritionally adequate amount of diet to allow for normal growth and development, as well as to permit such animals to ingest various ingredients in the diet for experimental purposes. While it is often not difficult to encourage an animal to eat, many experimental animals, such as rats and mice, tend to overeat, become obese and eventually develop obesity-related diseases. Unfortunately, such abnormalities in the animal's metabolism may interfere with the experimental end point being studied in an experiment. Accordingly, it is important to administer only a measured dosage of food to such animals to prevent such artifacts and experimental errors. Additionally, in certain experiments, such as those involving toxicological, preclinical testing of pharmaceutical agents and/or nutritional studies, it is important to quantitate the amount of diet or test ingredient agents ingested by an animal. Therefore, it is important to administer only a measured dosage of diet at predetermined intervals to control the intake of diet and the outcome of the experiment.
Heretofore, the administration of measured dosages of food to laboratory animals in cages has been accomplished manually for each feeding interval and for each cage. The manual method of administering measured dosages of food suffers from several drawbacks. The process is slow and cumbersome, requires more frequent handling of the equipment and animals by laboratory personnel and increases the likelihood of error in recording the dosage of food. Additionally, the currently available models of containers have a wide opening and are suitable either to place on the floor of a cage or to affix to a clamp located to the inside of the front frame of the cage. As a result, the laboratory animals are usually found to spill the diet from the container either during the feeding or by playing with the diet especially when it is in the powder form. Such spillage of diet is yet another means of introducing error in recording the dosage of food and/or test agent.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide a multiple dosage feeder for an animal cage which selectively provides one of a plurality of dosages of food to an animal within a cage in a structure which limits the animal to eating a single dosage at a feeding interval, reduces the number of steps and time required to administer measured dosages of food to each cage, indicates whether a particular dosage has been administered, eliminates the necessity of opening the cage to administer the measured dosages of food, and reduces the amount of diet spillage. It is further desired to provide a multiple dosage feeder which can be placed into a housing member which in turn can be placed into and removed from the cage through an opening in the cage.


A network service configuration method and a network management device, where the method includes obtaining, by a network management device, a terminal access port and an access parameter that is configured for the terminal access port and that is of a network service, determining a to-be-configured port according to the access parameter that is configured for the terminal access port and that is of the network service; generating a configuration instruction of the to-be-configured port, and sending the configuration instruction of the to-be-configured port to a to-be-configured network device. Hence, intervention from an administrator is not required, an error probability of network operation and maintenance may be reduced, efficiency of configuring a parameter of the network service is improved, and administrator time is saved.

In a network application, simplification of network device management is an important issue. In network management, when a terminal located in a network needs to access the Internet, an administrator needs to configure a corresponding parameter for a network port of each network device in the network such that access data of the terminal is sent to the Internet using the network device in the network. In a process of configuring the parameter for the network port, the administrator needs to first analyze network devices related when the terminal accesses the Internet, then analyze service configuration requirements of the related network devices, and finally configure the network devices one by one.
When configuring a parameter of a network service, the administrator needs to calculate configurations of the related network devices. This has a high requirement for a skill of the administrator.

Network service configuration method and network management device


An improved cathode for a sputtering system includes a metal cylinder and strips of material bonded to the inside of the metal cylinder and/or material sprayed onto the inside of the metal cylinder. The strips may have various specified compositions and/or configurations and/or other characteristics which enhance the ability of the sputtering system to deposit films of high temperature superconductor material on substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cylindrical magnetron sputtering system and, more particularly, to a cylindrical hollow cathode magnetron sputtering system for depositing a film or films on cylindrical substrates.
2. Description of Related Art
Thin layers of conducting materials such as metals, metal silicides, or low-resistivity polycrystalline silicon; and insulating substances such as silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, and phosphosilicate glass constitute important elements of many semiconductor devices.
Various techniques have been developed to cause such layers to be established as part of a device. One such technique, known as film deposition, involves supplying component materials for a growing layer from external sources and depositing those materials down upon a substrate. Such deposition processes are generally carried out in a vapor phase within a reduced pressure atmosphere of a selected gas or gases, or in a vacuum. If the material to be deposited does not react chemically during deposition, the process is referred to as Physical Vapor Deposition or PVD. If, on the other hand, the deposited material is a product of a chemical reaction which occurs within the vapor phase, either on the surface or in the vicinity of the substrate, the process is known as Chemical Vapor Deposition or CVD. Hybrid methods of film deposition, i.e., those which involve both physical and chemical processes, are also known.
One method of physically depositing a film upon a substrate is known as sputtering. A typical sputtering system includes a target (a cathode) and a substrate holder (an anode) positioned so that the surface of a substrate upon which the film to be deposited, which substrate is placed on the holder, faces the target. The target is a plate of the material to be deposited or from which a film is to be synthesized. The target is connected to a negative voltage supply, either dc or rf, and the substrate holder may be either grounded, floating, or biased, as well as either heated, cooled, or some combination thereof. A gas, at a pressure from a few millitorr to about 100 mTorr, is introduced into a chamber containing the substrate holder and target to provide a medium in which a glow discharge plasma can be initiated and maintained. When the glow discharge is started, positive ions strike the target and stimulate the removal of mainly neutral target atoms therefrom by momentum transfer. These atoms then condense into a thin film formed upon the surface of the substrate placed on the substrate holder. In addition, various particles other than neutral atoms, e.g., electrons and ions, are also produced at the target which may have a significant effect on the properties of the film deposited on the substrate.
Examining the sputtering process in more detail, a low pressure abnormal negative glow plasma discharge is maintained within the chamber between the cathode (target) and the anode (substrate holder). Electrons emitted from the cathode due to ion bombardment thereof are accelerated to near the full applied potential within the cathode dark space, i.e., a relatively nonluminous region between the cathode and the negative glow. Such high energy electrons enter the negative glow as so-called primary electrons where they collide with gas atoms and produce the ions required to sustain the plasma discharge. The primary electron mean free path increases with both increasing electron energy and decreasing pressure within the chamber. At low pressures, ions are produced far from the cathode where their chances of being lost are great. Additionally, many primary electrons hit the anode with high energies, causing a loss that is not offset by impact-induced secondary emission. Thus, ionization efficiencies are low. As the pressure within the sputtering chamber is increased at a fixed voltage, the primary electron mean free path decreases and larger currents are possible; however, at high pressures within the chamber the sputtered atom transport which occurs has been found to be reduced by collisional scattering.
It has also been found that a magnetic field extending parallel to the cathode surface can restrain primary electron motion to regions in the vicinity of the cathode and thereby increase ionization efficiency. It has been further found that the E.times.B electron drift currents can be caused to close on themselves by the use of cylindrical cathodes, which thereby prevent the E.times.B motion from causing the plasma discharge to be swept to one side. Based upon the foregoing, various cylindrical magnetron systems have been developed. Such systems having cylindrical, hollow cathodes are known as inverted magnetrons or cylindrical hollow magnetrons A typical cylindrical hollow magnetron sputtering system includes one or more solenoids, wound on a core of magnetic material, and placed coaxially and externally to or within the cathode to serve as a field generator. Typically, the anodes are also joined to tubular backstrap and are both made from magnetic material. The aforementioned anode design effectively reduces field curvature near the ends of the anode and also increases the magnetic field strength in the plasma located inside the cathode. Where a plurality of solenoids are used, current ratios of those solenoids may be controlled to provide a variety of field shapes. To avoid changes caused by unequal heating of the solenoids, they are also typically connected in series with one another.
Heretofore, cylindrical hollow magnetron systems have been recognized as useful for coating substrates of complex shapes where: (a) the hollow cathode has a uniform wall erosion rate; (b) the substrate surface is far enough from the ends so that end losses can be ignored; and (c) the object to be coated has an unobstructed view of the cathode surface. Thus, heretofore, the usefulness of cylindrical hollow magnetron sputtering systems has been viewed as involving positioning the anode where end losses may be ignored and positioning the object to be coated so that it is always completely exposed to the cathode surface.
The deposition of thin film coatings onto cylindrical substrates such as wires and fibers, which have not been recognized as having complex shapes, has heretofore involved either rotation of the substrate while moving it relative to a uni-directional coating material source, such as a planar diode, or other steps wholly unrelated to the processes described herein. Needless to say, those prior processes which involve rotating a wire or fiber being coated with a thin film require the use of complex rotating means. Even using the most precise rotating systems now available cannot ensure a film of sufficient uniformity of thickness and quality for a number of currently developing applications. For example, it is becoming highly desirable to be able to deposit films of a few microns in thickness upon optical fibers, ceramic fibers, thin wires and other such cylindrical substrates. Certain new applications require the deposit of one or more films of metallic, superconducting, dielectric, electro-optic, magnetic and/or piezoelectric materials onto the surface of fibers and wires in highly precise and uniform layers.
In addition to the problems of film thickness and uniformity discussed above, the prior art methods of film deposition include a number of other shortcomings which render them inefficient in coating cylindrical substrates. For example, it has been found that using a planar magnetron sputtering system to apply relatively thick films over very large lengths of fibers is extremely inefficient because of the inherently low cathode material utilization characteristic of such systems when thin fibers are used as substrates.
The method and system of the present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of prior art sputtering systems when the substrates to which a film is to be applied are wires and fibers.

Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation


A method and system for preparing subtitles for use in a stereoscopic presentation are described. The method allows a subtitle to be displayed without being truncated or masked by comparing the subtitle's initial footprint with an image display area. If any portion of the initial footprint lies outside the image display area, the subtitle is adjusted according to adjustment information, which includes at least one of: a scale factor, a translation amount and a disparity change, so that the adjusted subtitle lies completely within the image display area. Furthermore, the disparity of the subtitle can be adjusted by taking into account the disparities of one or more objects in an underlying image to be displayed with the subtitle.

In a three-dimensional (3D) digital cinema theatrical presentation, the masking on the screen may obstruct or encroach on the region in which a subtitle or caption is to have been displayed, thus necessitating a modification to the subtitle, e.g., its position and/or dimensions on the screen. The same situation can arise in a 3D video display, if a full raster of the content or the original subtitle occupies an area larger than a display area of a monitor. In such situations in 3D, not only must the subtitle or caption be adjusted in size or dimensions and/or relocated in a coordinated fashion for each eye's image, but there must also be an accommodation for the 3D content which the caption will overlay, so that the caption does not interfere with apparent depth of elements within the content, nor be unsuitably displayed far into the foreground with respect to the underlying content. The term "apparent depth" is the depth perception by a viewer relative to the screen, caused by the disparity between the left-eye and right-eye images. A 3D presentation is usually constrained to provide apparent depth because viewers at different locations will perceive a different apparent depth for the same element in the image.
In a 3D presentation, the "overlay" or "compositing" of a caption provides that the caption and the associated image or content are combined so as to present the caption, within the image space, readably to a viewer. This necessarily obscures a portion of the image, with the portion of the image that gets obscured being chosen manually (e.g., by an artist or subtitle technician), or in some cases automatically. The caption may be semitransparent in whole or in part.
In the case of 3D, subtitles are generally provided with a specified disparity (i.e., offset between the right- and left-eye subtitles), often measured in pixels, so that the system responsible for rendering the text can render the text with the 3D image content and have the appropriate offset applied between the right- and left-eye subtitles so that they are correctly placed. When the location offset between the right- and left-eye is zero, the subtitle appears to be at the surface of the screen. When the location places the subtitle for the right eye to the right of the subtitle for the left eye, then the subtitle appears to be behind the screen. If the subtitle for the right eye is to the left of the subtitle for the left eye, then the subtitle appears to be in front of the screen.
Various methods and systems for subtitle display have been described by others in commonly-assigned patent applications, e.g., Redmann in published PCT patent application, WO 2010/096030, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Preparing Subtitles for Display" and Izzat et al. in PCT published patent application, WO2008/115222, entitled "System and Method for Combining Text with Three-Dimensional Content". The teachings in both PCT publications are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
In general, captions and subtitles in theatrical presentations have different meanings. For example, captions refer to commentary in the language of the primary audio, whereas subtitles are generally in a language other than of the primary audio. However, both are instances of text applied over the main image. Since embodiments of this invention apply equally to captions and subtitles, these terms are used interchangeable in this discussion.
Captions and subtitles are also frequently encountered as either 'open' or 'closed'. Open captions or subtitles are visible to all viewers, and are 'burned-in', that is, made into an inextricable element of a main image, e.g., an image or content for presentation or display. Closed captions or subtitles, however, are not provided as a part of the main image. Instead, they are displayed by the action of the monitor or projector, or the set-top box or server driving the monitor, in conjunction with the display of the main image or content.
In some cases, e.g., in digital cinema presentations, the subtitles or captions are provided with metadata for their placement in the main image. In other cases, e.g., television, the closed captions are provided without placement information and the placement is left up to the presentation system.
Most television systems provide closed captions as a stream of text that is rendered by the display device. In digital cinema systems, captions or subtitles may be provided as timed-text, where text strings to be rendered in a default or explicitly specified and provided font, or they may be provided as still-frame images of the text.

Subtitles in three-dimensional (3D) presentation


A suspension beam with a captured axle is described, including a top and bottom plate, a pivot mount, and a spring mount, and side plates. Optional embodiments include an axle sleeve, multiple top and bottom plates, a u-shaped member in place of the side plates. The pivot mount includes a bush housing and a bush housing clamp. The side walls may be recessed, flush or outboard with respect to the top and bottom plates. The top and bottom plates are directly attached to the axle or axle sleeve, and to the pivot mount.

This invention generally relates to a suspension beam for a vehicle, and more particularly to one having a captured axle. The suspension beam, also known as a control arm, and axle assembly of this invention is particularly directed to one wherein the upper and lower beam plates directly engage and retain an axle mounted substantially perpendicular to the beam. Additional structures, such as side plates or rigid webbing would generally be used to increase overall beam stability and rigidity.
The suspension beam assembly of the instant invention has multiple applications but would generally be used for heavy duty trucks and trailers. The beam assembly is adaptable for use with a multitude of hanger types as well as with air ride resilient spring assemblies interposed between the beam and a vehicle chassis. The beam assembly can be used in both overslung and underslung applications, and in certain applications may be mounted in a leading or trailing orientation with respect to its connection to the vehicle chassis.
Generally, the suspension beam will be mounted to a pivot depending from a vehicle chassis. The beam itself extends away from the pivotal attachment a pre-determined length. Any variety of suspension members, such as resilient air bags, coil springs or the like may be mounted between the beam and the vehicle chassis. Further, an axle is generally mounted perpendicular to a pair of spaced apart suspension beams.
It is the attachment of the axle to the beams which is the novel feature of the instant invention. It is highly desirable to have a rigid axle to beam connection which substantially eliminates up and down flexation as well as side to side deflection during suspension articulation. A proper rigid axle-to-beam connection further limits unwanted suspension tracking and suspension deflection as the vehicle encounters uneven surfaces, and as it maneuvers through turns.
Efforts to perfect the axle to beam connection have included positioning the axle between the upper beam member and a separate lower beam member in a clam shell orientation as well as passing the axle directly through the side plates of the beam. A variety of axle sleeves or collars have also been utilized to increase the area of connection between the beam plates and the axle and to enhance the rigidity of the axle-to-beam connection point. Some of the prior art particular to the axle-to-beam connection includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,237 to Dilling and U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,875 to Schlosser. Certain prior art suspension beams included cut-out portions into which an axle was positioned and then fastened. Examples of these axle to beam connections can be seen at U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,360 to Chan and U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,482 to Pierce.
An additional problem with typical axle to beam connections in control arm applications is that the forces imparted on the axle may actually stress the cross-sectional shape such that the axle becomes out of round. Numerous forces are imparted on the axle during vehicle operation and including centrifugal force at the vehicle center of gravity which is proportionate to the radius of the curve or corner, as the vehicle maneuvers around a corner, and the vehicle speed squared. This action creates a roll moment proportionate to the height of the center of gravity off the ground and the magnitude of the centrifugal force. Since the vehicle is in a steady state condition, the roll moment is resisted at the tire to road interface by an equal but opposite moment created by unloading the tire of one side of the vehicle by a force and increasing the load on the opposite side tire by the same force magnitude. The roll moment causes the vehicle to lean in one direction which imparts excessive directional force at an axle to beam connection point. Further, tire deflection becomes proportionate to the force magnitude and the radial spring rate of the tires. The forces caused by the roll moment must be transferred from the vehicle body through the suspension into the axles and the tires, and then to the road surface. Transference of the load from the suspension to the axle varies depending on the orientation of the control arm respective its connection to the vehicle.
The forces which are imparted on the axle to beam connection can be changed by altering the method of connecting the axle to the beam. It is desirable to control the application of forces during vehicle maneuvering to eliminate or at least limit excessive forces at any isolated point at the axle to beam connection. A very good description of the overall force application to the axle to beam connection can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,237 to Dilling. The Dilling patent discloses an axle beam with two spaced apart side plates. A bore is formed completely through the spaced apart side plates in horizontal alignment. The axle is passed through the bore and fixed therein by weldment or other conventional means. As explained in the Dilling patent, this orientation of axle to beam connection allows control of the forces imparted during vehicle maneuvering and limits the application of centrifugal forces as well as side to side deflection. One disadvantage of this orientation is the transference of force between the axle and the beam side plates, specifically along the portion of the side plate disposed between the axle and the upper and lower beam plates. As stated in the Dilling patent, however, the invention achieves its purpose of limiting forces at the axle to beam connection by surrounding the axle with a rigid connection substantially 360 degrees around its circumference. This assertedly prohibits the axle from being stressed out of its manufactured cross-section shape thereby limiting the likelihood of "out of round" from occurring. As stated, this orientation also eliminates the need for additional mechanical fasteners such as U-bolts. As with other prior art configurations, an axle sleeve is sometimes used to further increase rigidity of the connection thereby limiting bending and torquenal forces as the axle to beam connection points.
The instant invention provides an improved suspension beam that further controls the imparting of torsional and bending forces at the axle to beam connection points by eliminating the side plate span between the circumference of the axle and the top and bottom plates of each suspension beam. Each suspension beam includes a first end and a spaced apart second end. At the first end of the suspension beam, a pivotal mount is formed for retaining a resilient bushing which is then inserted into and pivotally attached to a bracket depending from the vehicle chassis. At the second end of the beam, a mount is provided for a resilient air suspension member. It is understood that the mount may be oriented for both overslung and underslung applications.
Between the pivot bushing of the first end and the air bag mount of the second end, a rigid top plate and rigid bottom plate are provided. Intermediate to the ends, an axle is positioned and captured directly between the top plate and bottom plate. It is preferable that the top plate and bottom plate are slightly arced about the periphery of the axle to increase the axle to beam connection span. Because the top plate and bottom plate of the beam are directly connected to the axle, the axis of rotation of the axle lies on the centerline of the beam. Side plates would generally be inserted and fixed between the pivot bushing and the axle as well as between the axle and the second end. This further increases the rigidity and stabilizes the beam. Further, by directly attaching the top plate and bottom plates to the axle, there is no side wall flexing between the axle and those top and bottom plates which would induce stress.
The top and bottom plates both extend from the axle in directions substantially tangent to the axle and are in contact with the surface of the axle along a distance. That distance can be varied by forming a slight arc in the top plate or the bottom plate or both plates. Accordingly, stresses and forces imparted on the axle during vehicle articulation are transferred directly from the axle to the top and bottom plates which then carry those stresses. Further, this orientation directs forces from the axle substantially to the center line of the suspension beam rather than the sidewalls of the beam directly above and below the axle.
This orientation also facilitates ease of manufacture because no holes have to be bored through the beam sidewalls. Positioning an axle through bores in the sidewalls requires a certain degree of tolerance in those bores to facilitate the passage of the axle. Further, tolerance must be provided to allow weldment of the axle to the side plates. This necessity is eliminated by the instant invention.
In another configuration of the invention, the axle is trapped between the top and bottom plates, however, the additional side plates are replaced by a U-shaped member. It is known that the U-shaped member replacing side plates further limits side to side deflection during vehicle articulation.
The orientation of the captured axle with direct connection between the top and bottom plates in the axle surface creates a symmetrical beam. The symmetrical centerline of the axle and beam further allows uniform clearance for disc brakes, actuators, brake camshafts and other accessories.
In some applications it may be desirable and preferable to have an actual sleeve over the axle to eliminate the direct weldment of the top and bottom plates to the axle surface. It is understood, however, the sleeve is optional.
In applications where an axle sleeve is used, the axle sleeve may be flush to the beam sidewalls, or may be mounted inboard or outboard the beam sidewalls. Further, the axle sleeve can be manufactured in one or more pieces and may be provided with windows to enhance weldment of the sleeve to axle or the sleeve to beam.
The sidewalls of the beam may also be replaced by a single center wall which creates a substantial I-beam configuration when the center plate is connected to the top plate and bottom plate of the beam.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, multiple top and bottom plates may be used. The axle may be captured between a first top plate and a first bottom plate. The first top plate then overlies a second top plate while the first bottom plate overlies a second bottom plate. It is further understood the top or bottom plates can be wrapped about the circumference of the axle to increase the surface contact of the axle to the top and bottom plates.


An image data storing device includes: an image data obtaining unit that obtains image data; a storing unit that stores the image data obtained by the image data obtaining unit into any one of plural storage regions, to each of which a name is assigned; a reception unit that receives the name of the storage region in which the image data is stored from external equipment, the name being obtained by the external equipment that takes the image data from the storage region, and the name being set by a user; and a memory that stores the name received by the reception unit in association with the storage region.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image data storing device, a method of storing image data and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program.
Related Art
There are known some image forming apparatuses in which image data is stored in a region with a name that has been assigned thereto.

Image data storing device, method of storing image data and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program


A flash memory and a flash memory fabrication method for increasing the coupling ratio by HSG including forming a STI region on a silicon substrate to define an active region, forming a tunneling oxide layer on the active region, and depositing an amorphous silicon layer on the silicon substrate. The method also includes patterning the amorphous silicon layer along a bit line direction, forming an embossed silicon layer including HSGs on the patterned amorphous silicon layer, and sequentially depositing an ONO layer and a polysilicon layer for a control gate on the resulting structure. The method further includes forming a photoresist pattern on the polysilicon layer, and forming a control gate by etching the polysilicon layer using the photoresist pattern as a mask, and simultaneously forming a floating gate along the bit line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor device and a fabrication method thereof and, more particularly, to a method of fabricating a gate flash memory for increasing a coupling ratio between a floating gate and a control gate.
2. Background of the Related Art
A flash memory generally includes a floating gate and a control gate. A dielectric layer such as oxide-nitride-oxide (hereinafter referred to as "ONO") is positioned between the floating gate and the control gate and a tunneling oxide is positioned between the control gate and a silicon substrate. Such a flash memory usually stores or removes data in the way that electrons or holes are held in or removed from the floating gate. In other words, because the floating gate is completely isolated by the tunneling oxide and the dielectric layer, once electrons or holes enter the floating gate, they cannot escape from the floating gate even if no power is supplied. Therefore, data can be stored in the flash memory.
In order to write or erase data in the flash memory, a bias applied to terminals accessible from outside, that is, the control gate and a junction or a substrate, has to be induced to the floating gate to generate a strong electric field at both ends of the tunneling oxide. A coupling ratio (hereinafter referred to as "CR") is a ratio of the voltage applied to the control gate and the junction or the substrate and the voltage induced to the floating gate. As the coupling ratio, CR, increases, the efficiency of programming and erase operations in a memory cell improves and the voltage required from outside decreases.
The CR is defined as a ratio between tunneling oxide capacitance and ONO capacitance. When the tunneling oxide capacitance is represented as CTUN and the ONO capacitance is represented as CONO, the coupling ratio CR is expressed as follows:CR=CONO/(CTUN+CONO)
For a high CR, the CONO has to be relatively high compared to the CTUN. The capacitance is determined by several factors such as a dielectric constant, the thickness of a dielectric layer, and the area of a capacitor.
In a general flash memory fabrication process, the thickness of the tunneling oxide is about 80 Å through 120 Å and the thickness of the dielectric layer is about 150 Å through 300 Å. For same area of the CONO and the CTUN, the CONO becomes smaller than the CTUN and, therefore, it is difficult to obtain a CR required for adequate operation of the flash memory. Accordingly, in order to ensure a high CR, methods for increasing the surface area of the floating gate have been suggested.
FIGS. 1a through 1g are cross-sectional views illustrating a related art flash memory fabricating process for increasing the surface area of the floating gate.
Referring to FIG. 1a, a tunneling oxide layer 2 is deposited on a substrate 1. A first polysilicon layer 3 used to form a floating gate is then deposited on the tunneling oxide 2. Then, a first mask layer 4 is deposited on the first polysilicon layer 3. The first mask layer 4 is generally nitride.
Referring to FIG. 1b, some parts of the first mask layer 4, the first polysilicon layer 3, the tunneling oxide 2, and the silicon substrate 1 within a field oxide area 5 to be formed in a subsequent process are removed by a photolithography process and an etching process to form shallow trench isolation (hereinafter referred to as "STI").
Referring to FIG. 1c, a field oxide 6 is deposited on the first mask layer 4 and the STI and a chemical mechanical polishing (hereinafter referred to as "CMP") process is then performed so that the field oxide 6 remains only within the STI.
Referring to FIG. 1d, the STI field oxide 6 is etched until its height reaches the height of the floating gate 3, and then the first mask layer 4 is removed. Then, a second polysilicon layer 7 used to form a second floating gate is deposited over the whole surface of the resulting substrate including the first floating gate 3. A second mask layer is deposited on the second polysilicon layer 7 and selectively etched to form a second mask pattern 8.
Referring to FIG. 1e, a third mask material layer is deposited on the second polysilicon layer 7 and the second mask pattern 8, and anisotropically etched to form spacers 9 on the sidewalls of the second mask pattern 8.
Referring to FIG. 1f, the second polysilicon layer 7 is etched using the second mask pattern 8 and the spacers 9 as a hard mask to form the second floating gate 7. Then, the second mask pattern 8 and the spacers 9 are respectively removed.
Finally, referring to FIG. 1g, a dielectric layer 10 and a third polysilicon layer 11 used to form a control gate are deposited in order over the whole surface of the resulting structure.
In the above-mentioned art, the length of the floating gate is extended on the field oxide to increase the surface area of the floating gate. In addition, in order to minimize an increase in memory cell size due to the lengthened floating gate, the space between floating gates is minimized by a hard mask process. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1g, the area of the floating gate increases by 2(L+h) per cell compared to that of the tunneling oxide.
However, the related art flash memory fabricating methods are very complicated and have difficulty in obtaining a desired capacitance in addition to a high degree of integration. In addition, in three-dimensionally formed floating gates, an increase in the surface area between the floating gate and the substrate detrimentally affects program and erase operations. Therefore, the area between the floating gate and the control gate should be large while the area between the floating gate and the substrate is maintained constant.
In addition, in the related art, because the capacitance which affects the CR is determined by just the area of the floating gate and the side area of the floating gate along the word line, the coupling ratio is at most about 0.6. As a result, the voltage delivery efficiency from the control gate to the floating gate is poor, thereby requiring complicated source and drain structure and additional charge pumps to boost the voltage applied to the control gate.

Flash memory device and fabricating method thereof


System and method for processing cache metadata from a plurality of cache devices. One or more storage systems may store data blocks to a set of storage devices, each storage system hosting and operating one or more cache devices for caching data blocks of the storage devices. Each cache device may host and implement an agent engine that collects and stores cache metadata for the cache device, the cache metadata describing caching operations of the cache device. A monitor engine receives and aggregates “raw cache metadata” from each of a plurality of cache devices and processes the raw cache metadata to produce processed cache metadata comprising normalized cache metadata (based on activity rate of a cache device), weighted cache metadata, or normalized weighted cache metadata. The processed cache metadata is used by a cache prediction engine to select data blocks for caching to one or more of the cache devices.

A storage system typically comprises one or more storage devices into which information may be entered, and from which information may be obtained, as desired. The storage system includes a storage operating system that functionally organizes the system by, inter alia, invoking storage operations in support of a storage service implemented by the system. The storage system may be implemented in accordance with a variety of storage architectures including, but not limited to, a network-attached storage environment, a storage area network and a disk assembly directly attached to a client or host computer. For example, the storage devices may comprise disk drives organized as a disk array, wherein the term "disk" commonly describes a self-contained rotating magnetic media storage device. The term disk in this context is synonymous with hard disk drive (HDD) or direct access storage device (DASD).
The storage operating system of the storage system may implement a high-level module, such as a file system, to logically organize the information stored on volumes as a hierarchical structure of storage objects, such as files and logical units (LUs). A known type of file system is a write-anywhere file system that does not overwrite data on disks. An example of a write-anywhere file system that is configured to operate on a storage system is the Write Anywhere File Layout (WAFL®) file system available from NetApp, Inc. Sunnyvale, Calif.
The storage system may be further configured to allow many servers to access storage objects stored on the storage system. In this model, the server may execute an application, such as a database application, that "connects" to the storage system over a computer network, such as a point-to-point link, shared local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or virtual private network (VPN) implemented over a public network such as the Internet. Each server may request the data services of the storage system by issuing access requests (read/write requests) as file-based and block-based protocol messages (in the form of packets) to the system over the network.
A plurality of storage systems may be interconnected to provide a cluster architecture configured to service many servers. The cluster architecture may provide a shared storage pool comprising one or more aggregates. Each aggregate may comprise a set of one or more storage devices (e.g., disks). Each aggregate may store one or more storage objects, such as one or more volumes. The aggregates may be distributed across a plurality of storage systems of the cluster architecture. The storage objects (e.g., volumes) may be configured to store content of storage objects, such as files and logical units, served by the cluster in response to multi-protocol data access requests issued by servers.
Each storage system (node) of the cluster may include (i) a storage server (referred to as a "D-blade") adapted to service a particular aggregate or volume and (ii) a multi-protocol engine (referred to as an "N-blade") adapted to redirect the data access requests to any storage server of the cluster. In the illustrative embodiment, the storage server of each storage system is embodied as a disk element (D-blade) and the multi-protocol engine is embodied as a network element (N-blade). The N-blade receives a multi-protocol data access request from a client, converts that access request into a cluster fabric (CF) message and redirects the message to an appropriate D-blade of the cluster.
The storage systems of the cluster may be configured to communicate with one another to act collectively to increase performance or to offset any single storage system failure within the cluster. The cluster provides data service to servers by providing access to a shared storage (comprising a set of storage devices). Typically, servers will connect with a storage system of the cluster for data-access sessions with the storage system. During a data-access session with a storage system, a server may submit access requests (read/write requests) that are received and performed by the storage system.
Each storage system may receive read requests for data stored on a storage device (e.g., a large capacity storage device such as a disk). In response, the storage system may transmit data from a storage device to a client associated with the read request. However, such read requests may take a significant time to respond to and cause performance limitations of the storage system. For example, retrieving and transmitting requested data from a storage device in response to a read request may produce a slow response time.
For improved response to received read or write requests, the storage system may temporarily store/cache particular selected data in a smaller cache device for faster access. The cache memory may comprise a memory device having lower random read-latency than a typical storage device and may thus still provide faster data access than a typical storage device. However, the cache memory may comprise a memory device that is more costly (for a given amount of data storage) than a typical large capacity storage device. Since the storage size of the cache device is relatively small, data stored in the cache device is chosen selectively by cache prediction algorithms (sometimes referred to as cache warming algorithms). A cache prediction algorithm may use cache metadata describing caching operations of a cache device to select which data to store to the cache device. In essence, the cache prediction algorithm is predicting that the selected data will be requested and accessed by a client relatively soon, thus the selected data is pre-loaded to the cache device.
As described above, one or more storage systems may store data to a shared storage pool (comprising a set of storage devices) for providing storage services to one or more servers and. One or more cache devices may reside and operate on each storage system. Conventional methods, however, do not provide an efficient and accurate method for processing cache metadata from multiple cache devices. Without improved methods for processing cache metadata from multiple cache devices, cache prediction algorithms using the cache metadata may not select desirable data for storage to the cache devices, thus increasing response times to received access requests.

Caching data using multiple cache devices


Gas diffusion media for use in fuel cells are provided that contain a pattern of deposited hydrophobic polymer such that less than 100% of the surface of the diffusion media is covered with hydrophobic polymer. The media are made by first wetting a sheet of carbon fiber paper in an aqueous emulsion of the hydrophobic polymer. The wetted sheet is contacted with a pattern member containing one or more openings oriented to correspond to a predetermined or desired pattern of hydrophobic polymer deposition. While still in contact with the pattern member, the sheet is heated or otherwise treated to cause evaporation of the water from the sheet. Evaporation while in contact with the pattern member takes place in such a way that hydrophobic polymer is concentrated in the sheet at the openings of the pattern member by the process of evaporation.

Fuel cells are increasingly being used as power sources for electric vehicles and other applications. An exemplary fuel cell has a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with catalytic electrodes and a proton exchange membrane formed between the electrodes. During operation of the fuel cell, water is generated at the cathode electrode based on electrode chemical reactions between hydrogen and oxygen occurring within the MEA. Efficient operation of a fuel cell depends on the ability to provide effective water management in the system.
Gas diffusion media plays an important role in PEM fuel cells. In general, diffusion media needs to wick product water away from the cathode catalyst layer while maintaining reactant gas flow from the gas flow channels through to the catalyst layer. In addition, the proton exchange membrane between the electrodes works best when it is fully hydrated. Accordingly, one of the most important functions of the gas diffusion media is to provide water management during fuel cell operation.
For best water management, it is desirable to provide a gas diffusion medium having a desirable balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. By providing gas diffusion media with a proper balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, it is possible to prevent flooding in the cell due to excessive accumulation of water in the gas pores while maintaining proper hydration of the proton exchange membrane.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide gas diffusion media having improved balance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties that could be exploited to provide efficient water management in fuel cells.

Preparation of patterned diffusion media


An automatic interlock system for a motor grader is disclosed. The automatic interlock system may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to determine an operating mode for the motor grader based on one or more operating parameters of the motor grader. The one or more processors may be configured to determine an interlock configuration for the motor grader based on the operating mode. The one or more processors may be configured to selectively activate or deactivate one or more interlocks of the motor grader based on the interlock configuration.

A motor grader machine may include a transmission coupled to a power source, such as an internal combustion engine or an electric motor to enable the motor grader machine to be repositioned and/or to travel between locations. Additionally, the motor grader machine may include one or more implements to perform one or more functions. For example, the motor grader machine may include a ripper implement to perform a ripping function, a blade implement to perform a blading function, and/or the like.
An inexperienced operator may cause damage to the motor grader machine by attempting to engage (or by accidentally engaging) multiple different functions of the motor grader machine concurrently or by engaging a function of the motor grader machine under incorrect operating conditions. For example, articulating an articulation joint of the motor grader machine while ripping using a ripper implement may result in premature wear to a ripper carriage, a set of ripper shanks, a frame, the articulation joint, a set of articulation cylinders, and/or the like. Similarly, blading or ripping while the motor grader machine is moving between locations at a threshold speed may result in premature wear to a set of cutting edges, a drawbar, a frame, a power train, a ripper assembly, and/or the like. Similarly, blading or ripping while the motor grader is moving in reverse may result in damage to the ripper assembly, the drawbar, and/or the like. Similarly, ripping without a differential lock engaged may cause tire slip, which may result in premature wear to a power train. Similarly, enabling a circle drive to circle when a threshold load is disposed on the motor grader may result in damage to a circle motor. One attempt to prohibit engaging a function of a machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,053 that issued to Gulet on Aug. 20, 2002 ("the '053 patent"). In particular, the '053 patent discloses an actuating arrangement that includes an actuating member, a locking arrangement, a movement carrier, and an interlock that can free movement of the carrier. The interlock disclosed in the '053 patent uses a mechanically-defined indication of an operating position of the carrier to prevent the locking bar from being brought into a position in which the actuating member can be activated, thereby locking out a function of a machine.
However, there may be additional factors or parameters that may impact whether an interlock is to be activated for a machine, such as a gear of the machine, a speed of the machine, a status of an implement of the machine, a characteristic of an implement of the machine, a mode of the machine, a skill level of an operator of the machine, and/or the like. The automatic interlock system of the present disclosure solves one or more problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.

Controlling interlocks based on an interlock configuration


A method of dominant speech extraction is provided that includes acquiring a primary audio signal from a microphone and at least one additional audio signal from at least one additional microphone, wherein the acquired audio signals include speech and noise, decomposing each acquired audio signal into a low frequency sub-band signal and a high frequency sub-band signal, applying speech suppression beamforming to the low frequency sub-band signals to generate a reference channel having an estimate of noise in the low frequency sub-band signals, applying noise cancellation to the low frequency sub-band signal of the primary audio signal using the reference channel to generate a first signal having a low frequency estimate of the speech, applying noise suppression beamforming to the high frequency sub-band signals to generate a second signal having a high frequency estimate of the speech, and combining the first and second signals to generate a full-band audio signal.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to dominant speech extraction in the presence of diffused and directional noises.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current spatial noise cancellation techniques such as filter-and-sum beamforming and super-directivity beamforming do not intrinsically exploit the spectral nature of audio signals. Such techniques are typically cascaded with traditional single channel noise cancellation to provide a complete solution. Such a solution is sub-optimal because the spatial noise cancellation does not benefit from the traditional noise cancellation, and vice-versa. Furthermore, most such solutions tend to favor either diffuse or directional noise.

Dominant speech extraction in the presence of diffused and directional noise sources


In an engine control unit, a crank signal is generated as a pulse train of every predetermined angle interval corresponding to rotation of a crankshaft of an engine. An edge time measuring counter receives the crank signal and measures an interval of pulses. A frequency multiplication counter generates frequency multiplication clocks of integer times by the next pulse on the basis of a pulse interval of this time. A reference counter counts the number of waves of the frequency multiplication clocks between pulses in the crank signal. When the count value of the reference counter reaches a frequency multiplication number, a guard counter forcedly stops outputting of angle clocks which are outputted in response to generation of frequency multiplication clocks in a tracking counter.

This application is based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Applications No. 2000-11629 filed Jan. 20, 2000 and No. 2000-363044 filed Nov. 29, 2000.
The present invention relates to an engine control unit, and particularly to an engine control unit which generates frequency-multiplied signal train.
An engine control unit (ECU) is an electronic control unit for performing controls such as fuel injection control, ignition timing control, and idle speed control to operate an engine in an optimum state. Specifically, signals from various sensors for sensing engine operating states such as crank angle sensor and engine coolant temperature sensor are supplied to an the ECU to control an optimum fuel injection amount, injection timing, ignition timing, and the like.
Controls synchronized with the engine speed such as ignition control and injection control, that is, controls synchronized with a crankshaft rotation position are performed by generating a signal of ignition pulses or the like after elapse of offset (delay) time from a predetermined crankshaft position indicated by the edge of a crank signal.
It is, however, necessary to perform an arithmetic operation for converting the angle to time. There is a demand for reduction in processing load and improvement in accuracy.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an engine control unit with reduced processing load and improved accuracy and, moreover, capable of properly controlling the engine even when a pulse interval in a crank signal becomes long.
According to the present invention, a crank signal is generated as a pulse train of every predetermined angle interval corresponding to rotation of a crankshaft of an engine. An edge time measuring counter receives the crank signal and measures an interval of pulses. A frequency multiplication counter generates frequency multiplication clocks of integer times by the next pulse on the basis of a pulse interval of this time. A reference counter counts the number of waves of the frequency multiplication clocks between pulses in the crank signal. When the count value of the reference counter reaches a frequency multiplication number, a guard counter forcedly stops outputting of angle clocks which are outputted in response to generation of frequency multiplication clocks in a tracking counter.

Engine control unit having frequency-multiplied signal generating function


Provided is a housing including a bottom wall, a front-end wall, side walls, and a mating space. Each of the side walls includes a locking protrusion configured to engage with a counterpart locking protrusion locking protrusion of a counterpart housing when the counterpart housing is inserted into the mating space. Each of the side walls also includes an auxiliary-metal-fixture mounting portion configured to be loaded with an auxiliary metal fixture having a bottom end that is to be fixed to a surface of a board. The terminal is configured to be loaded in the front-end wall, and includes a connection part having a bottom end that is to be fixed to the surface of the board. The bottom wall has a surface facing the surface of the board, slanted surfaces are formed respectively on the left side edge and the right side edge of the surface of the bottom wall so that each slanted surface extends, in the front-to-rear direction of the sidewall, towards the outer side of the housing with a gradually widening gap with the surface of the board.

Conventionally, in a connector for connecting an electric wire such as a cable to a circuit board such as a printed circuit board, the housing of the wire connector is locked to the housing of the connector mounted on the board in order to maintain the mating between the connector mounted on the board and the wire connector connected to the wire (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a connector of a prior art.
A housing 811 of a connector is illustrated in FIG. 8. The housing 811 is mounted on a circuit board 891 used in electronic devices, electrical machinery and apparatuses and the like. The connector mates with a wire connector connected to a termination of a wire of a cable (not illustrated). In addition, the housing 811 includes left and right side walls 817 that define a mating space 813 into which a housing of a wire connector is inserted. In addition, the housing 811 includes engaging protrusions 818, each of which protrudes inwardly from the inside surface of the corresponding one of the side walls 817. An engaging recess 816 is formed directly under the corresponding one of the engaging protrusions 818. In addition, the housing 811 includes a terminal 861 that comes into contact with the terminal of the wire connector.
When the wire connector and the connector mounted on the circuit board 891 are mated together, the operator pushes the housing of the wire connector into the mating space 813 of the housing 811 of the connector mounted on the circuit board 891 with his/her hand fingers. The engaging protrusions of the housing of the wire connector ride over the engaging protrusions 818 of the housing 811, and thus enter the engaging recess 816. Thus, the engaging protrusion of the wire connector and the engaging protrusion 818 engage with each other. Consequently, the housing of the wire connector and the housing 811 are locked together, and the mating state of the wire connector and the connector mounted on the circuit board 891 is maintained.
Note that when releasing the mating between the wire connector and the connector mounted on the circuit board 891, the operator exerts an extraction force by his/her hand fingers and pulls the housing of the wire connector. Hence, the engaging protrusions of the wire connector are pulled out of the engaging recess 816 past the corresponding engaging protrusions 818, and the locking between the housing of the wire connector and the housing 811 is unlocked. Consequently, the wire connector is removed from the mating space 813 of the housing 811.    Patent Document 1: JP 2006-128034 A


A method for establishing a secured communication channel, between a first processing component and a second processing component; the method comprising executing a digital rights management agent on a processing unit, the digital rights management agent being configured to enforce permissions associated with digital content based on a digital rights management protection mechanism; receiving, by the digital rights management agent at least a security data item, the security data item including a session key data item; verifying authenticity of the received session key data item by the digital rights management agent using said digital rights management protection mechanism; providing the verified session key data item by the digital rights management agent to at least the second processing component; establishing a secured communication channel between the first and second processing components using at least the provided session key data item.

In many situations it is desirable to protect digital content against unauthorised access. Encryption of data is a widely used method for achieving such a protection. There is a large variety of known encryption methods providing different degrees of protection against attacks by unauthorised users targeted at breaking the encryption and getting access to the data.
Digital Rights Management (DRM) refers to a range of access control technologies that can be used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to impose limitations on the usage of digital content and devices. The term is used to describe any technology which controls uses of digital content and, in particular, restricts uses that were not desired or foreseen by the content provider.
A DRM agent is a trusted entity in a processing device, such as a mobile terminal, responsible for enforcing permissions and constraints associated with digital content managed by a DRM system, as well as controlling access to the digital content. The DRM agent is typically launched when protected digital content is received by the device, and it extracts and decrypts the digital content. The DRM agent does normally not decrypt protected content at the point when it arrives to the processing device, as unprotected content must normally not be stored on the processing device. Instead, content is normally decrypted chunk by chunk upon request from a rendering unit (e.g. upon media player requests) and conditioned on applicable permissions and/or constraints.
The DRM agent is consulted for permissions and constraints before the content is passed to a media player or other processing device or program for processing the digital content, e.g. an image viewer, video player, etc.
In a DRM system, it is often desirable to communicate data between two nodes such that the data is protected against interception and tampering.
For example, in home networks a residential gateway is typically the terminating node in communication sessions involving download and rendering of protected content. To enable rendering on other devices in the home network that may not necessarily include complete DRM support, the protected content which is decrypted by the DRM agent in the gateway needs to be securely transmitted to the device.
More generally, the DRM agent may need to involve rendering resources that it can not by default treat as trusted, including cases where these resources are located both in the same device as the DRM agent and cases where these resources are located in another device than the DRM agent.
So-called Secure Authenticated Channels (SAC) are used to transfer data protected against interception and tampering between two nodes. A common method to create a secure channel is for the two nodes to create and share a common secret session key that can be used for encrypting the data sent over the channel. Several options are available for securely establishing this session key. Cryptographic protocols like the Diffie-Hellman key exchange can be used, or if the nodes belong to a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) system (also referred to as PKI ecosystem), this may be used for a secure key exchange. For the two nodes to authenticate each other, either a PKI ecosystem is required, or the two nodes must share a common pre-loaded secret key (or password).
For two nodes to achieve mutual authentication and establishment of a secure channel, either a PKI ecosystem is needed, or preloaded shared secrets must be available in the nodes.
PKI ecosystems require a substantial investment to be established, and the computational burden on the nodes for running the required algorithms is quite high. Only few usable large-scale PKI systems are in place. Some of them are connected to PKI-based DRM system, for example the PKI system established by CMLA (Content Management License Administrator), for use in OMA DRM standards compliant servers and devices. However, these systems are not foreseen to be used for general SAC establishment, and per se do not support such general functionality.
Preloaded shared secrets require that the nodes have securely received the secret at some point before the secure transfer is to take place. In scenarios where larger numbers of nodes shall support a SAC establishment, one possible solution is to provision the shared secret during the production process of the nodes. This means that the "SAC ecosystems" that the node should support must be known at production time, which reduces the flexibility in what SAC ecosystems a node can participate. Therefore, pre-shared keys (e.g. as used in TLS-PSK) are often used in enterprise applications and systems, but not commonly in CE devices or systems.

Method and device for communicating digital content


A low-profile lens element for steering a beam is provided. Specifically, the low-profile lens element is mechanically rotatable such that a beam can be steered in any direction within three-dimensional space. The lens element may include a number of discrete portions for differentially delaying adjacent discrete portions of a beam in order to effect beam steering. These discrete portions may vary in width. In addition, multiple lens elements may be provided.

Many communication systems require a low profile aperture antenna that can be easily conformed to an existing structure such as the skin of an aircraft, inside a moving vehicle, or concealed beneath a surface, and that can provide a steered beam. In the past, monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) or other electronically scanned or steered planar phased arrays have been used for such applications because they provide a low profile aperture. The usual reasons why a consumer may choose an electronic phased array include the phased array's ability to provide high speed beam scanning and meet multi-beam/multi-function requirements.
Unfortunately, there are several disadvantages associated with implementing an electronically steered phased array. The most notable disadvantage is that electronically steered phased arrays are very costly since the amplitude and phase at each point in the aperture is controlled discretely. The active circuit elements required to operate such an array are complex, costly and susceptible to failure. Due to this high cost, commercial exploitation of electronically steered phased arrays has been limited. Rather, the use of electronically steered phased arrays is basically confined to military and other government programs where minimizing costs are not necessarily of the highest priority. However, for most commercial applications mitigating costs is a high priority when implementing antennas or other communication devices.
An alternative to electronically steered phased array antennas is a mechanically steered scanning antenna utilizing admittance plates. These admittance plate antennas produce a directional beam by differentially rotating two, co-axial, flat admittance plates relative to each other. Some admittance plates are designed to efficiently pass incident, circularly-polarized, radio frequency energy (i.e. a beam) through them while imparting a phase shift to the beam. The direction of travel of the beam is typically changed from its original direction to a new, different direction when the phase of the beam is changed. Although, admittance plate antennas provide a viable option to antenna consumers requiring a low profile, relatively low-cost antenna capable of steering a beam, admittance plate antennas have several shortcomings associated therewith. For example, admittance plate antennas can only produce a small phase shift to the beam over the passband of the beam. This means that admittance plate antennas cannot steer a beam to extreme angles relative to the antenna. In order to steer the beam to wider angles, multiple admittance layers are used for each plate. Moreover, some admittance plate antennas are polarization dependent, meaning that the admittance plate can only impart phase changes to beams having a particular polarization. Thus, while admittance plate antennas provide a low cost alternative to electronically steered phased arrays, the admittance plate antennas sacrifice much in the way of performance.
Still another type of antenna capable of providing a steered beam is a mechanically steered directional antenna, such as a mechanically steered dish. However, such antennas have a relatively high profile, and are therefore unsuitable for applications requiring a low-profile antenna.
For these reasons, there exists a need for a method and apparatus that provides a relatively inexpensive, reliable, and low profile antenna displaying high quality beam steering capabilities.

Low-profile lens method and apparatus for mechanical steering of aperture antennas


A containment cap assembly for enclosing a metallic fastener extending through a structure includes an inner cap with a projection extending from an outer surface of the inner cap and an outer cap includes a first end which defines an opening and includes an inner surface which defines a first space within the outer cap in communication with the opening. A dimension of the opening and of the first space defined by the inner surface of the outer cap are each greater than a dimension defined by the outer surface of the inner cap such that with positioning the inner cap within the outer cap, a second space is defined between the outer cap and the inner cap. A slot of the outer cap extends first curvilinear direction such that the projection positioned within the slot moves along first curvilinear direction with moving the inner cap into the outer cap.

In fabricating assemblies, such as for example an aircraft, cap assemblies are used to enclose a metallic fastener which extends through a structure of the assembly being fabricated. Enclosing the metallic fastener with the cap assembly protects the vicinity in which the metallic fastener is located by insulating the metallic fastener from transmitting any current or electrical spark from the metallic fastener into the vicinity within the fabricated assembly such as the aircraft upon an occurrence of an electromagnetic effect ("EME") or lightning strike event.
In the installation of cap assemblies to electrically isolate a metallic fastener, the cap assembly is filled with uncured sealant and the cap assembly is then placed over the metallic fastener. The uncured sealant tends to expand with the cap assembly installed over the metallic fastener. The expansion of the uncured sealant tends to lift off the cap assembly from a surface of a structure through which the metallic fastener extends and the cap assembly abuts in enclosing the metallic fastener. Cap assemblies which have experienced lift off are reinstalled enclosing the metallic fastener. Reinstallation increases the cost of providing electrical isolation of the metallic fasteners in the fabrication of an assembly such as an aircraft.
In addition, sealant can be constructed from high density material and with the cap assembly internal volume being filled with this high density material additional weight is added to the fabricated assembly such as an aircraft. The additional weight to the aircraft can result in an increase in cost of operation of the aircraft.
There is a need for cap assemblies which will provide electrical isolation of a metallic fastener and will to avoid unnecessary additional weight being added to the aircraft as a result of filling the internal volume of the cap assemblies with uncured sealant. There is also a need to provide a cap assembly in which uncured sealant expansion has minimal or no lift off effect to a cap assembly installed on a structure.

EME protection cap system with screw sealant mechanism