The invention provides an improved planar which effectively prevents undesirable torn grain. The planer of the invention includes at least one planer knife or blade and at least one pressing member, both attached to and supported on a cutterhead. The pressing member includes a head element which is located to have a predetermined angle with respect to the blade and is resiliently movable in a predetermined direction to press an edge of the head element against a certain position of a wood surface immediately before a cutting edge of the blade moving in a fixed direction for cutting or against a boundary between the wood surface and a chip being currently cut from the wood surface. The direct pressing of the pressing member against the wood surface prevents rise of wood fibers and thereby effectively reduces or eliminates undesirable torn or chipped grain.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved planer used in woodworking.
2. Description of the Related Art
As widely known, planers are often used for planing by rectilineal cutting in the field of woodworking. A conventional planer typically includes two to four blades attached to a cutterhead of an appropriate width. The planer roughly finishes the surface of wood by cutting chips each having a shape corresponding to a trochoid locus drawn by a cutting edge of each blade.
Up-milling, wherein each blade is rotated in the direction opposite to the feeding direction of wood, has advantages over down-milling, wherein each blade is rotated in the same direction as feeding of wood, and up-milling is thereby applied to most cases of planing with a planer. Such advantages include: shallower and flatter knife marks, little damage to the cutting edge of each blade, and easier disposal of chips.
In the up-milling process, however, the conventional planar generally causes some defects as torn grain or chipped grain, wooly grain or fuzzy grain, and raised grain. Especially, torn grain or chipped grain, which means a wood surface having one or plural cuts deeper than a desirable finished surface, badly affects the subsequent steps of woodworking, and hence effective prevention of torn grain is highly desirable.
Such torn grain may be attributable partly to blades, that is, abrasion or inadequate setting of the cutting edge of each blade, and partly to wood, that is, direction and strength of wood fibers or cross grain. In any case, a cutting force of each blade applied onto a portion of wood shallower than a desired finished surface causes adverse effects on a place of wood deeper than the desirable finished surface to destroy the wood fibers in the deeper portion.
A variety of measures have been taken to prevent such torn grain or chipped grain. One typical example of these measures includes giving an appropriate bevel to a rake face of a blade (a face on which chips slide) in order to make a cutting angle greater than a tooth angle, thereby reducing a component of a cutting force in a direction separating from a surface of the wood to eliminate or reduce effects of the cutting force on a wood portion deeper than a desirable finished surface. Another example of such measures includes mounting a chip breaker on the side of the rake face of a blade or alternatively shaping a part of the cutterhead located on the side of the rake face of a blade as a chip breaker, so as to turn and fold chips and thereby prevent undesirable fore split. Here the fore split means the fracture of wood fibers generated before the cutting edge of each blade, and at least part of such fore split appears as torn grain on the surface of the wood.
Although generally increasing the cutting resistance, these measures reduce the amount of torn grain as long as various cutting conditions, such as the type of wood, direction of fibers, degree of dryness, and undeformed chip thickness of each blade are set within specific ranges. All such measures are, however, directed to portions of the wood located after the cutting edge of each blade, for reducing torn grain generated before the cutting edge of the blade. These indirect methods can not sufficiently prevent torn grain when the cutting conditions are not in the specific ranges. Even when the bevel or chip breaker is finely set according changes in the cutting conditions, these measures are of limited effectiveness.


A MEMS device (20) includes a movable element (20) suspended above a substrate (22) by a spring member (34) having a spring constant (104). A spring softening voltage (58) is applied to electrodes (24, 26) facing the movable element (20) during a powered mode (100) to decrease the stiffness of the spring member (34) and thereby increase the sensitivity of the movable element (32) to an input stimulus (46). Upon detection of a stiction condition (112), the spring softening voltage (58) is effectively removed to enable recovery of the movable element (32) from the stiction condition (112). A higher mechanical spring constant (104) yields a stiffer spring (34) having a larger restoring force (122) in the unpowered mode (96) in order to enable recovery from the stiction condition (112). A feedback voltage (56) can be applied to feedback electrodes (28, 30) facing the movable element (32) to provide electrical damping.

Advancements in micromachining and other microfabrication techniques and processes have enabled manufacture of a wide variety of microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. One common application of MEMS is the design and manufacture of sensor devices. MEMS sensor devices are widely used in applications such as automotive, inertial guidance systems, household appliances, protection systems for a variety of devices, and many other industrial, scientific, and engineering systems. Such MEMS devices are used to sense a physical condition such as acceleration, angular rate, pressure, temperature, and so forth, and to provide an electrical signal representative of the sensed physical condition.

Stiction resistant mems device and method of operation


The present invention relates to a method and a system for a real time transmission of transcribed voice data via a wireless packet network of a telecommunication network used by IP-Relay or IP-CTS for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. The invention provides a text relay service communication system for a real-time transmission of transcribed voice data via a wireless packet network, comprising a text data receiving part for receiving text data generated and sent by a call agent; a text data transmitting algorithm part for generating dummy text data when the text data receiving part has not received any text data from the call agent for a pre-determined time period; and a text transmitting part for transmitting the text data and the dummy text data via the wireless packet network.

The wireless packet networks of the mobile communication network allow data transmission between a server and a client, but if there is no data transmission for a certain period of time, the mobile communication network provider disconnects the wireless link between the server and the client for efficient use of the limited resources of the wireless telecommunication network while keeping the session of the upper layer protocol. This may cause problems such as data transmission delay for IP-Relay or IP-CTS services where a real-time text data transmission is critical for effective communication with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to eliminate such delay, caused by the disconnection configuration of the wireless packet networks, for real-time text data transmission by IP-Relay or IP-CTS services in order to provide better service and customer satisfaction.
The use of IP-Relay or IP-CTS services has increased due to a growing population of elderly people with hard of hearing as well as people with congenital or acquired hearing loss, and there is a growing need for the services to be provided to mobile communications devices such as cellular phones or smart phones where such services are limited to a fixed IP terminal of a computer under the wired or WiFi packet network environment. How IP-Relay or IP-CTS service works is as follows. First, a Call Agent ("CA") transcribes and converts what a hearing-capable user says into text data, and transmits the text data to a hearing-impaired user via IP networks. However, wireless packet networks have limited wireless resources and, they utilize a wireless resource saving feature to release wireless resources while maintaining the upper protocol session if there have been no data transmissions between a server and a client for a pre-set period of time ("T-time period"). Consequently, once the wireless resource saving feature is triggered to release wireless resources while maintaining the upper protocol session, there is a transmission delay and real-time transmission cannot be guaranteed if the server or the client tries to transmit data again because it takes time to re-allocate wireless resources to the link between the server and the client.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional process of text data transmission from a CA to a user using IP-Relay or IP-CTS via a wireless packet network.
Text data is transcribed and generated from the voice of the hearing-capable user and the CA transmits the text data to the hearing-impaired user as part of IP-Relay or IP-CTS services. In FIG. 1, the text data (n, n+1, n+2) generated by a CA is transferred to a user without delay because the transmission is being done by the active wireless connection. However, when the hearing-impaired user speaks and the hearing-capable user listens to the hearing-impaired user, text data is not generated by the CA and there is no data transmission through the wireless packet network. If there have been no data transmissions for a time exceeding the T-time through the wireless packet network, the wireless resources are released. Once the wireless resources are released and if the hearing-capable user begins to speak and the CA converts what he says into text data (n+4, n+5) and requests transmission of the text data through the wireless packet network, then the wireless packet network will begin to reallocate wireless resources to the connection between the two users in an attempt to transmit the text data (n+4, n+5). Thus, it takes time for the wireless connection to be completed and for the text data transmission to become ready again, and the text data (n+4, n+5) transmission is delayed as much as T-alive. The text data (n+6, n+7, n+8, n+9) generated after the wireless session is re-connected is transmitted without delay and transmitted almost simultaneously with the previous text data (n+4, n+5). Due to the wireless resource saving feature of the mobile packet network, conventional IP-Relay or IP-CTS service fails to maintain real time transmission of text data transcribed from voice data.
Accordingly, to solve the above problems, a need for a text relay service communication system and method for a real-time transmission of transcribed voice data via a wireless packet network has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

Text relay service communication system and method for a real-time transmission of transcribed voice data via a wireless packet network


A suction device includes a sucking member having a connecting body connected integrally to a flexible disc body that is disposed under an upright sleeve, a connecting member disposed in the sleeve and connected to the connecting body, and an operating rod connected pivotally to a pivot block unit on the sleeve and to the connecting member. The operating rod is operable so that an assembly of the connecting member and the connecting body is pulled upwardly, thereby forming a vacant space between a central portion of the disc body and a supporting surface to which a peripheral portion of the disc body is attached sealingly.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a suction device, more particularly to a suction device that can be operated using a single hand, and a supporting device having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional suction device 1 is shown to include a hollow base 11 having a sleeve 14 that extends upwardly from a top surface 111 of the base 11, a sucking member 12 disposed under the base 11, a connecting rod 121 extending upwardly from a top surface of the sucking member 12 through the base 11, and an operating rod 13. The operating rod 13 has a pivot end portion 133 connected pivotally to the connecting rod 121, an operating end portion 132 opposite to the pivot end portion 133, and an intermediate fulcrum portion 131. The pivot end portion 133 of the operating rod 13 is in the form of a cam that abuts against the top surface 111 of the base 11.
The suction device 1 can be switched from a non-sucking state, where the base 11 is spaced apart from the sucking member 12 and where the operating end portion 132 is pivoted away from the base 11, as shown in FIG. 1, to a sucking state, where a peripheral portion 122 of the sucking member 12 is attached sealingly to a supporting surface 101 as a result of pressing of the base 11 thereon and where a central portion 123 of the sucking member 12 is pulled upwardly, thereby forming a vacant space 120 between the supporting surface 101 and the central portion 123 of the sucking member 12, as shown in FIG. 2, by operating the operating rod 13. In actual operation of the suction device 1 from the non-sucking state to the sucking state, the operating end portion 132 of the operating rod 13 is pivoted toward the base 11 such that the base 11 moves downwardly toward the sucking member 12 due to pressing of the pivot end portion 133 to abut against the peripheral portion 122 of the sucking member 12 until the intermediate fulcrum portion 131 abuts against the base 11. Thereafter, the operating end portion 132 is pressed downwardly such that an assembly of the pivot end portion 133 of the operating rod 13, the connecting rod 121 and the central portion 123 of the sucking member 12 move upwardly, thereby forming the vacant space 120.
In such a configuration, during operation, in addition to operation of the operating rod 13 using one hand of a user, it is required to support the conventional suction device 1 using the other hand of the user before the base 11 can be placed to abut against the peripheral portion 122 of the sucking member 12, thereby resulting in inconvenience during use.

Suction device and supporting device having the same


Embodiments of methods, systems, and storage medium associated with processing a search request for items are disclosed herein. In one instance, the method may include determining that a search request includes an indication of intent to obtain information about items that are related to other items, obtaining information about a first set of items from a first data repository, including the obtained information as input in the search request, and obtaining, in response to the search request, information about a second set of items related to the items of the first set from a second data repository. The second data repository may include information about items, including relationship of the second set of items with the first set of items. The item relationship may be determined based on collaborative filtering of information associated with the first or second items. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Many Web resources offering various content, services, products, or other items allow their users to search across their content, product, or service catalogs in order to find a desired item, compare the desired item with similar items, and make an informed decision about acquiring the desired item. However, searching for a desired item may present a fairly difficult problem as for a given user item query there may be multiple possible interpretations that may or may not be entirely accurate and may not always lead to desired search results and/or may require the user to repeatedly refine her search before the desired search result is obtained.

Refining user search for items related to other items


A high speed tool steel and a manufacturing method therefor are disclosed, in which carbides are formed in the matrix in a uniform manner, thereby obtaining a high toughness and a high abrasion resistance. The high speed tool steel according to the present invention includes a basic composition of W.sub.a Mo.sub.b Cr.sub.c Co.sub.d V.sub.x C.sub.y Fe.sub.z where the subscripts meet in weight %: 5.0%.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.7.0%, 4.0%.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.6.0%, 3.0%.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.5.0%, 6.5%.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.9.5%, 2.2%.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.8.3%, 1.1%.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.2.18%, and 66.52%.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.73.7%. The final structure has carbides uniformly distributed within a martensite matrix, which are mainly MC and M.sub.6 C carbides. The method includes the steps of melting the above-defined alloy composition, gas spraying the melted alloy to form a bulk material, heat treating the bulk material to decompose the M.sub.2 C carbides to stabilize M.sub.6 C carbides and hot working the heat treated bulk material to a desired shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a high speed tool material for various tools. More specifically, the present invention relates to a high speed tool steel and a manufacturing method therefor, in which carbides are formed in the matrix in a uniform manner, thereby obtaining a high toughness and a high abrasion resistance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a high speed tool steel is a high carbon alloy steel in which carbide forming elements are contained in large amounts. For example, one of them is W--Mo alloys, and others are W--Co alloys, Mo--Co alloys, and W--Mo--Co alloys.
If the high speed tool steel is to withstand against a high speed cutting operation, the abrasion resistance at a high temperature has to be superior, and the toughness has to be sufficient. Such mechanical properties of the high speed tool steel are decided by the size, shape, distribution of the carbides within the alloy. The carbides in high speed tool steels are classified by containing metallic elements MC, M.sub.6 C, M.sub.2 C, M.sub.23 C.sub.6, and M.sub.7 C.sub.3. MC is a carbide containing vanadium as the major ingredient. M.sub.23 C.sub.6 is a carbide containing chrome as the major ingredient, and M.sub.6 C and M.sub.2 C are carbides containing tungsten and molybdenum as the major ingredients respectively. Specifically, if the mechanical properties such as abrasion resistance and toughness are to be superior, spherical carbides having a size of 2-3 .mu.m should be uniformly distributed.
Further, the high speed tool steels which have a manufacturing history of more than 100 years show that their mechanical properties are varied in accordance with the manufacturing methods.
The method for manufacturing the high speed tool steels is classified into an ordinary casting method and a powder metallurgical method. In a high speed tool steel billet which is manufactured by casting, coarse carbides are formed during the casting, and these coarse carbides are non-uniformly distributed within the billet, with the result that the workability becomes bad, and that the toughness and the shock resistance become low. Further, due to the growth of the coarse carbides and the severe segregation of the micro-structure, the kinds and contents of the alloy elements to be added are limited, this being a further disadvantage.
On the other hand, in the case where the high speed tool steel is manufactured by applying the powder metallurgical method, fine and uniform carbides can be obtained owing to the rapid cooling. Further, the amount of the alloy elements can be increased, and therefore, a material having a high abrasion resistance can be obtained.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho-55-38961 discloses a method for manufacturing a high speed tool steel in which the powder metallurgical method is applied while restricting the content of tungsten. In this method, the growth of the M.sub.2 C carbide is inhibited, and instead, the growth of the MC and M.sub.6 C carbides are promoted, with the result that toughness and abrasion resistance are improved.
However, when manufacturing the high speed tool steel by applying the powder metallurgical method, there is required a complicated manufacturing process including the preparation of powder, a particle size sorting, a canning, a degassing treatment, a preform-making process, and a sintering process. Therefore, the control of the manufacturing conditions is difficult, and therefore, the manufacturing cost is increased.
Further, the M.sub.6 C carbides form carbide cells on the grain boundaries within the powder, and the carbide cells grow during the high temperature sintering so as to form continuous carbide cells. If these are to be destroyed, a high forging ratio is required. Further, in a coarse powder, there are generated the growth of coarse M.sub.6 C carbides and a segregation phenomenon, and therefore, toughness is adversely affected. Therefore, the control of particle size becomes difficult.
Meanwhile, the present applicant filed a patent application (under Korean Patent Application No. 94-38977) in which a method for manufacturing a high speed tool steel by applying a spray forming is disclosed unlike the casting and the powder metallurgical methods.
In this spray forming method, the MC+M.sub.2 C carbides are formed, and then, the M.sub.2 C carbides are made to be thermally decomposed. Then a hot forging is carried out. This spray forming method has many process advantages compared with the conventional casting and powder metallurgical methods. However, this spray forming method shows severe segregations, and therefore, it is applied to a particular composition, while it has not been commercialized.

High speed tool steel, and manufacturing method therefor

Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology


The present invention provides novel binding pair compositions of defined and limited stability comprising nucleic acid detection markers useful for the homogeneous, sensitive detection of analytes. Also provided are methods for the sensitive homogenous detection of analytes, particularly analytes of clinical relevance. Kits for preparing binding pairs of the invention and for performing the methods of the invention are also provided.

There is a desire in the field of clinical chemistry to determine the concentrations of proteins, drugs, organisms and other analytes in biological fluids for the purpose of diagnosing and monitoring disease. For example, during myocardial infarction proteins are released from the heart. Detecting the presence, concentration and time course of release of such proteins can aid in the diagnosis of a heart attack.
Most clinically relevant proteins that are currently detected in biological fluids are present at concentrations greater than 1 picogram/ml. Prostate specific antigen (PSA), for example, is a serum protein useful in the detection of prostate disease that is normally present in males at concentrations of about 0-4 ng/ml. PSA levels above 4 ng/ml are suspicious for prostate disease, particularly prostate cancer. This concentration range is readily detected by conventional immunoassay technology. Following prostate removal, however, the concentration of PSA drops to levels that are undetectable by conventional technology. Increasing PSA levels in cancer patients that have undergone prostate removal is indicative of relapse. An assay with femtogram/ml sensitivity is required to monitor these patients.
It is estimated that there are approximately 35,000 genes and as many as 500,000 proteins in the human species. The increased diversity of proteins versus genes can be accounted for post transcriptional (e.g., splicing) and posttranslational (e.g., phosphorylation, glycosylation) modifications. Such modifications can significantly alter protein function. Thus, even subtle differences may be clinically relevant. Only 290 proteins have been identified in human plasma even though there are thousands of spots seen in 2D gels. The human plasma proteome may contain hundreds of thousands of proteins that are present at concentrations too low to detect by current technology. Methods to detect the majority of these proteins are not currently available.
The difficulty of detecting low concentrations of certain analytes is compounded by the relatively small sample sizes that can be utilized in a clinical assay. Therefore, most immunoassays for protein analytes rely on heterogeneous methodology such as ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), in which antibody-bound analyte is physically separated from unbound analyte. Heterogeneous detection methods are complicated and require multiple steps (e.g., binding to a solid phase and repeated washing steps) to separate the bound analyte from the unbound. These steps lead to non-specific binding and lowered sensitivity; they can be costly and time consuming. Thus, there is a need for a high sensitivity homogenous assay which avoid non-specific binding.
Homogeneous immunoassays (those which do not require a physical separation of the bound-species and the free-species) have been described for small molecules, such as drugs. These assays include SYVA's FRAT® assay, EMIT® assay, enzyme channeling immunoassay, and fluorescence energy transfer immunoassay (FETI) (Dade Behring, Deerfield, Ill.); enzyme inhibitor immunoassays (Hoffman LaRoche and Abbott Laboratories): fluorescence polarization immunoassay (Dandlicker), among others. All of these methods have limited sensitivity, and only a few, including FETI and enzyme channeling, are suitable for large multiepitopic analytes. Thus, there exists a need for a sensitive, homogeneous method for the detection of large and/or complex analytes present in biological and clinical samples.


An analyte sensor is provided for detecting an analyte concentration level in a bio-fluid sample. The analyte sensor has a base, a first electrode and a second electrode wherein a thermocouple portion is provided integral with the second electrode thereby enabling on-sensor temperature measurement capability. In some embodiments, two and only two electrical contact engagement portions are provided thereby simplifying electrical contact. Manufacturing methods and systems utilizing the analyte sensors are provided, as are numerous other aspects.

The monitoring of analyte concentration levels in a bio-fluid may be an important part of health diagnostics. For example, an electrochemical analyte sensor may be employed for monitoring of a patient's blood glucose level as part of diabetes treatment and care. An electrochemical analyte sensor may be employed, for instance, for detecting an analyte concentration level in a bio-fluid sample such as from a single sample of blood or other interstitial fluid. For example, the bio-fluid may be obtained from the patient using a lancet (e.g., by a pinprick or needle). Typically, after a bio-fluid sample has been obtained, the sample may then be transferred to a medium (e.g., to an analyte sensor) for measurement of the bio-fluid sample's analyte concentration level (e.g., a glucose analyte level).
It is established that such measurements may be somewhat affected by temperature, as the reagent and the electrochemical reaction may be temperature sensitive. Prior systems have included temperature sensing inside of an analyte testing meter (e.g., a temperature sensor inside of a blood glucose meter (BGM)). However, for various reasons, sensing of temperature inside of the meter, albeit achieving enhanced accuracy as compared to non-temperature compensated analyte meter systems, may induce some error when actual temperature on the sensor (at or near the reagent) is not properly compensated for. Accordingly, it may be beneficial to provide an analyte sensor adapted for bio-fluid analyte testing that may more closely or more elegantly account for temperature changes due to the actual temperature on the analyte sensor.

Temperature sensing analyte sensors, systems, and methods of manufacturing and using same


A plasma display apparatus may include an external light shielding sheet attached to a front of a panel to absorb and shield externally incident light. Accordingly, a black image can be implemented close to an original color and bright and dark room contrast can be improved. Furthermore, thickness of the external light shielding sheet and height of a pattern unit have a given ratio in order to properly secure an aperture ratio of the external light shielding sheet. Accordingly, light emitted into the panel can transmit toward a user side.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention may relate to a plasma display apparatus. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention may relate to a plasma display apparatus in which an external light shielding sheet is provided for shielding external light incident from outside of a panel. The external light shielding sheet may be disposed at a front of the panel to improve bright and dark room contrast of the panel.
2. Background
A plasma display panel (hereafter a "PDP") is an apparatus configured to generate discharge by applying voltage to electrodes disposed in discharge spaces and to display an image including characters and/or graphics by exciting phosphors with plasma generated during discharge of gas. The PDP may be advantageous in that it can be made large, light and thin, may provide a wide viewing angle, and may implement full colors and high luminance.
In the PDP, when a black image is implemented, external light may be reflected on a front of the panel due to white-based phosphor exposed on a lower plate of the panel. Therefore, a problem may arise because a black image is recognized as a bright-based dark color, which may result in a lower contrast.

Plasma display device having a filter comprising an external light shielding sheet


Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise methods and apparatus to determine an RSOC value of a battery. The methods and apparatus may comprise utilizing various parameters, such as voltage and/or current, to calculate the RSOC of the battery. In various embodiments, the methods and apparatus may display one of a first RSOC and a second RSOC. In various embodiments, the methods and apparatus may further detect changes in the relevant parameter(s), adjust a previously-reported RSOC of the battery accordingly, and report the adjusted RSOC.

"Battery capacity" is a measure (typically in ampere hours) of the charge stored by the battery, and is determined by the mass of active material contained in the battery. The battery capacity represents the maximum amount of energy that can be extracted from the battery under certain specified conditions. The available capacity of the battery may be referred to as the relative state of charge (RSOC). Typically expressed as a percentage, RSOC is the ratio of the remaining capacity to the full charge capacity (FCC).
Temperature affects the full charge capacity of the battery. Referring to FIG. 4, in general, as the temperature decreases, the capacity decreases, and vice versa. Since the RSOC is computed based on the capacity value, the RSCO also increases or decreases according to temperature. The effect of temperature on the battery capacity results in inaccurate reporting of the RSOC.

Methods and apparatus for reporting a relative state of charge of a battery

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC


The present embodiments relate generally to the enforcement of guidelines, standards, and best practices for software applications. According to certain aspects, a method of retrieving, by a self-management engine from a data storage device, health data indicative of a utilization of a collection of data by one or more computing devices is disclosed, including detecting, by the self-management engine, a pattern in the utilization of the collection of data based on the health data; automatically determining, by the self-management engine, a correction to be applied to the collection of data based on the detected pattern and based on one or more rules corresponding to the detected pattern; and causing, by the self-management engine, the correction to be applied to the collection of data.

Databases or other software applications that fail to adhere to guidelines and best practices pose a threat to the stability and availability of systems implementing those applications. For example, a database application, such as an application utilizing DB2® Database Software, might support a customer-facing web interface requiring the database application to maintain constant availability, such as in the case of ecommerce, insurance claim processing, technical support, cloud service, etc. interfaces. When such an application or system implementing the application becomes unavailable, a company can lose significant amounts of money in a short period of times (e.g., $800,000/hour or more).
Manually monitoring and enforcing standards, guidelines and best practices across all systems and applications operated by a company is very expensive and time consuming. As a result, many administrators or managers of enterprise applications/systems rely on random checks of data or system logs to ensure adherence to standards (e.g., after noticing problems in a production environment). This checking might identify some deviations from standards, guidelines, and best practices, but many costly problems can still occur due to the retroactive and unfocused nature of this solution.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY


Device and method for treating hyperhidrosis by application of a fabric including an elemental zinc particle deposition to a treatment area of the skin.

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which patients experience excessive sweating. Patients suffering from hyperhidrosis may sweat even when they are resting or the temperature is cool. People naturally sweat when triggered by warm temperatures, exercise, nervousness, fear or anger. However, hyperhidrosis patients sweat excessively without these triggers and appear to have overactive sweat glands. Such uncontrolled sweating can lead to a patient's physical and emotional discomfort.
Current treatments, such as antiperspirants may mask odors from perspiration but fail to prevent sweat release from the skin surface. Other treatment methods including medication, iontophoresis, botulinum toxin injections, or surgery are invasive and may place some patients at risk. Accordingly, it would be an advance in the art to provide a device and method of treating hyperhidrosis that can address substantial arrest of the release of sweat by the skin surface non-invasively and with efficacy.


A semiconductor device having good TFT characteristics is realized. By using a high purity target as a target, using a single gas, argon (Ar), as a sputtering gas, setting the substrate temperature equal to or less than 300° C., and setting the sputtering gas pressure from 1.0 Pa to 3.0 Pa, the film stress of a film is made from −1×1010 dyn/cm2 to 1×10 dyn/cm2. By thus using a conducting film in which the amount of sodium contained within the film is equal to or less than 0.3 ppm, preferably equal to or less than 0.1 ppm, and having a low electrical resistivity (equal to or less than 40 μΩ·cm), as a gate wiring material and a material for other wirings of a TFT, the operating performance and the reliability of a semiconductor device provided with the TFT can be increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiring material of semiconductor devices. Specifically the present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a circuit comprising a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT), and a manufacturing method thereof. For example, the present invention relates to an electro-optical device, typically a liquid crystal display device, and an electronic device with an electro-optical device installed as a component.
Note that through this specification, a semiconductor device indicates general devices that can function by using semiconductor characteristics, and that electro-optical devices, semiconductor circuits, and electronic devices are all categorized as semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Techniques for using semiconductor thin films (with a thickness on the order of several nm to several hundreds of nm) formed over a substrate having an insulating surface to structure a thin film transistor (TFT) have been in the spotlight in recent years. Thin film transistors are widely applied to electronic devices such as ICs and electro-optical devices, and the rapid development thereof as switching elements for image display devices is desired.
Conventionally, aluminum films formed by sputtering and having low resistivity have been often used as the wiring material for the above stated TFTs. However, when a TFT is manufactured by using aluminum as a wiring material, operation error or deterioration of TFT characteristics were caused by formation of projections such as hillocks or whiskers or by diffusion of aluminum atoms into the channel forming region, in the heat treatment.
As stated above, aluminum is not a preferable wiring material in the TFT manufacturing process because of its low heat resistance.
Therefore, materials containing, for example, tantalum (Ta) or titanium (Ti) as a main constituent are being tested for use as a wiring material other than aluminum. Tantalum and titanium have a high heat resistance in comparison to aluminum, but on the other hand a problem of high electrical resistivity develops. Further, if heat treatment is performed at a temperature on the order of 500° C., it becomes a problem that the electrical resistance increases by several times compared to before heat treatment.
Furthermore, when a film formed on a substrate possesses a large stress, substrate warping and film peeling generate, so it is preferable to perform film stress control and to form a film which possesses as low a stress as possible for a film formed by sputtering. The use of a gas mixture of argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe) as a sputtering gas has been proposed as one means of performing control of film stress. However, krypton (Kr) and xenon (Xe) are high priced, and therefore use of the gas mixture is unsuitable for cases of mass production.

Wiring material, semiconductor device provided with a wiring using the wiring material and method of manufacturing thereof

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


System and method to align a substrate under a shadow mask. A substrate holder has alignment mechanism, such as rollers, that is made to abut against an alignment straight edge. The substrate is then aligned with respect to the straight edge and is chucked to the substrate holder. The substrate holder is then transported into a vacuum processing chamber, wherein it is made to abut against a mask straight edge to which the shadow mask is attached and aligned to. Since the substrate was aligned to an alignment straight edge, and since the mask is aligned to the mask straight edge that is precisely aligned to the alignment straight edge, the substrate is perfectly aligned to the mask.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to fabrication of semiconductor devices and, more specifically, to the use of masks during the fabrication process, such as masked ion implant process.
2. Related Arts
Typically implanted pattern has stringent requirements for accuracy of features, such as location and spacing of implanted lines. The lines may be, for example, implant for increase conductance under metal fingers used to draw current from solar cells. These lines may be very thin and very dense (i.e., narrow pitch), requiring high accuracy of the implant. Many times more than one implanted pattern is needed on the same substrate. In that case, high level of accuracy needs to be maintained not only in one implant step but through multiple implant steps—sometimes across several processing tools. In order to achieve this, high precision alignment is necessary between the substrate and the patterning mask. Common approach is to precision align the mask and substrate together in vacuum and then implant through the mask. But such an approach has some challenges, including the following. Precision alignment in vacuum environment, optically or by other means, is difficult and very expensive. For multiple implants, precision alignment needs to be repeated multiple times to accommodate each mask change for different patterns. Exchanging masks in vacuum environment adds alignment inaccuracy, cost and complexity.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for simpler system for alignment of substrates to masks. Generally, any alignment steps that can be performed in atmospheric environment reduce the complexity and cost of the system. Moreover, removing the requirement for precise orientation during the transport of the substrate holder throughout the system would further reduce the complexity and cost of the system.

Implant masking and alignment system with rollers


A capacitor is made by forming a buffer oxide layer, an etching stop layer, and a mold insulation layer over a semiconductor substrate having a storage node contact plug. The mold insulation layer and the etching stop layer are etched to form a hole in an upper portion of the storage node contact plug. A tapering layer is deposited over the mold insulation layer including the hole. The tapering layer and the buffer oxide layer are etched back so that the tapering layer is remained only at the upper end portion of the etched hole. A metal storage node layer formed on the etched hole over the remaining tapering layer. The mold insulation layer and the remaining tapering layer are removed to form a cylindrical storage node having a tapered upper end. A dielectric layer and a plate node are formed over the storage node.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing capacitor of a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a capacitor having a tapered cylindrical storage node to prevent leaning of the cylindrical storage node and a method for manufacturing the same.
As the semiconductor memory devices such as DRAMs are highly integrated, the width of a capacitor, which serves as a storage for storing data in the memory device, is narrower. The capacitor is made of a dielectric layer interposed between a storage node and a plate node, and the capacitance is proportional to the surface area of the node and a dielectric constant of the dielectric layer and inversely proportional to a distance between the nodes, i.e. a thickness of the dielectric layer.
Accordingly, in order to obtain a capacitor of high capacity, it is required to use a dielectric layer having a large dielectric constant, and/or to enlarge the surface area of the node, and/or to reduce a distant between the nodes. However, limitations exist as to the extent the distant between the nodes, i.e. a thickness of the dielectric layer, can be reduced, and as such the studies were focused on finding ways of using a dielectric layer having a large dielectric constant or enlarging the surface area of the node to form a high capacity capacitor.
A typical method for enlarging the surface area of the node includes a method of forming a three dimensional storage node having a concave or cylindrical shape. The cylindrical shape storage node is considered more advantageous to realize a capacitor of high capacity than a concave type storage node, because it has larger node area.
However, although not shown and described in detail, a dip-out process for removing a mold insulation layer is carried out in order to form the cylindrical storage node and, during a drying procedure in the dip-out process, a storage node could lean to cause bridging of two adjacent storage nodes due to the surface tension of deionized water (DIW) and the increased height of the storage node.
Accordingly, as a way to ensure and prevent the leaning of the storage node and the bridging between the adjacent storage nodes, it was required to secure the cell-to-cell spacing of more than the desired distance and to reduce the height of the storage nodes.
However, since the spacing between cells is already narrow from the mask state due to the reduction of design rule to achieve high integration of semiconductor devices, it is difficult to ensure the adequate cell-to-cell spacing using a conventional etching process and a cylindrical storage node forming process, and thus it is impossible to prevent the leaning of the cylindrical storage node. Consequently, it is impossible to form stably a cylindrical capacitor when it is made in a conventional way as described above.

Capacitor having tapered cylindrical storage node and method for manufacturing the same


A panel assembly with a panel and a stringer is disclosed. The stringer has a stringer foot and an upstanding stringer web. The stringer foot has a flange which extends in a widthwise direction between the stringer web and a lateral edge and in a lengthwise direction alongside the stringer web, and a foot run-out which extends between the flange and a tip of the stringer foot. The foot run-out is bonded to the panel at a foot run-out interface. Reinforcement elements, such as tufts, pass through the foot run-out interface. At least some of the reinforcement elements are inclined relative to the foot run-out interface.

The design of stringer run-outs in composite skins of aircraft wings presents a great technical challenge. High shear and peel stresses can develop locally at the run-out causing the stringer to peel off from the skin. Out of plane stresses develop at the tip of the run-out and since composites are poor in out-of-plane strength, cracks are prone to form at the tip. Additionally, composites are poor in Mode-1 fracture toughness, so these cracks may grow.
A known solution is to clamp the run-out to the skin with a metallic finger plate which is bolted to the stringer foot and skin, as disclosed in US2013/0313391.

Panel assembly including stringer and reinforcement elements


Components, systems, and methods for hanging an article, such as a strand of lights that has multiple lights physically and electrically connected together by one or more electrical wires. Such a system includes an elongated strip having a ferromagnetic material, a feature for attaching the elongated strip to a structure, and a number of hanging devices each having a base, a fastener located on a front side of the base, and a magnet mounted to a back side of the base. The fastener is configured to couple with a portion of the article, and the magnet is magnetically attracted to and releasably attachable to the ferromagnetic material of the elongated strip. The hanging devices in combination are configured to secure and suspend the article from the structure by magnetically attaching to the elongated strip.

The present invention generally relates to components, systems, and methods for hanging strands of lights.
Holiday lights are traditionally hung on the exterior of buildings during the holiday seasons and then removed after the holidays have passed. However, hanging holiday lights can be time consuming and, depending on what types of fasteners are used (e.g., staples, nails, etc.), may cause damage to a building exterior. Various attempts have been made to promote ease of hanging and removing holiday lights, such as clips or other fasteners that couple with gutters. However, these devices are not always easy to use, may have limited durability, and may be limited in the types of surfaces to which they can be attached.
Lights, banners, signs, decorations, etc., used for other occasions and celebrations encounter similar issues as described above for holiday lights. Therefore, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable if improved systems and methods were available for hanging various types of articles to at least partly overcome or avoid the problems, shortcomings or disadvantages associated with traditional methods of hanging such articles.

Components, systems, and methods for hanging strands of lights


A RF transceiver includes an antenna, a receiver, a baseband circuit, a transmitter, and a T/R switch circuit. The T/R switch circuit is used for coupling the antenna and the receiver or coupling the antenna and the transmitter. The T/R switch circuit is coupled to the baseband circuit so as to receive biases provided from the baseband circuit. The T/R switch circuit includes four transistors and a power detector. The power detector detects the power of the output signal of the T/R switch circuit, so that the baseband circuit can adjust biases provided to the T/R switch circuit according to the power of the output signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a RF transceiver, and more particularly, to a RF transceiver having a T/R switch circuit with high power-handling capability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the wireless communication system, RF front-end circuit is gradually making use of low cost and highly integrated system of complementary metal oxide semiconductor transistors (CMOS) processed products. The transceiver usually uses a common antenna, so the T/R switch circuit functions as a transmitting/receiving path for the antenna. Thus, the T/R switch circuit needs enough isolation, low power consumption, and low insertion loss. In addition, the T/R switch circuit should have high power-handling capability according to the system requirement.
Filed effect transistor (FET) is generally used for T/R switch circuit because its power consumption is almost zero. The GaAs FET is the mainstream due to its low insertion loss and high isolation, but one disadvantage is the negative control voltages. As the development of CMOS process, many RF sub-circuits are developed, such as low noise amplifiers, voltage controlled oscillators, and mixers. In view of system on chip (SOC), the T/R switch circuit produced by CMOS process is necessary. When a transistor functions as a switch, the power consumption of the transistor is zero. The state of the transistor is determined according to the channel of the transistor. When the channel is turned on, the path of the transistor from the source to the drain is equivalent to a resistor having small input impedance. On the other hand, when the channel is turned off, the path of the transistor from the source to the drain is equivalent to a capacitor having great input impedance.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional RF transceiver 10. The RF transceiver 10 uses the same antenna 11 to receive and transmit signals, so the RF transceiver 10 uses the T/R switch 12 to switch. The RF transceiver 10 receives a RF signal from the antenna 11. The RF signal is amplified by a low noise amplifier (LNA) 13 and is inputted to a mixer 14 so as to generate an intermediate-frequency or baseband signal according to an oscillating frequency generated by an oscillator 15. A de-modulator 16 converts the intermediate-frequency or baseband signal to a digital signal and transmits to a baseband circuit 17. In addition, when the RF transceiver 10 sends a signal, the baseband circuit 17 transmits a digital signal to a modulator 18. The modulator 18 converts the digital signal to an intermediate-frequency or baseband signal. A mixer 19 generates a RF signal according to the intermediate-frequency or baseband signal and an oscillating frequency generated by an oscillator 20. The RF signal is amplified by a power amplifier (PA) 21 and is transmitted by the antenna 11.
Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a conventional T/R switch. The T/R switch can be divided into a series type and a shunt/series type. FIG. 2 shows a shunt/series type T/R switch, including four transistors M1, M2, M3, and M4. The transistors M1 and M2 are coupled in series for transmission and isolation. When the transistor M1 is turned on, the transistor M2 is turned off. When the transistor M1 is turned off, the transistor M2 is turned on. In addition, the transistors M3 and M2 are turned on at the same time. Thus, the low impedance is generated at the isolated terminal to provide a path to the ground so as to reduce the signal loss. Similarly, the transistors M4 and M1 are turned on at the same time. For the transistors M1 and M2, when the channel of the transistor is turned on, the resistance from the drain to the source becomes smaller as the size of the transistor increases. Thus, the insertion loss decreases but the parasitic effects of the substrate increases. The insertion loss decreases to a minimum and increases again because of the parasitic effects. When the channel of the transistor is turned off, the capacitance from the drain to the source becomes greater as the size of the transistor increases so as to reduce the isolation.


A charging control unit sets a fully charged state of a power storage device so as to have a margin for a fully charged capacity of the power storage device. The charging control unit sets the fully charged state to be variable in accordance with a degree of deterioration of the power storage device such that the margin becomes smaller as the degree of deterioration of the power storage device is larger. A traveling control unit switches between first control and second control in accordance with a degree of decrease of the margin when regenerative electric power exceeds a charging power upper limit value, the first control being control for regenerating, to the power storage device, an excess of the regenerative electric power relative to the charging power upper limit value, the second control being control for consuming the excess of the regenerative electric power using an auxiliary load.

An electrically powered vehicle configured to be capable of generating vehicle driving power using a motor, such as an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a fuel cell vehicle, is provided with a power storage device that stores electric power for driving the motor. In such an electrically powered vehicle, during starting or acceleration, electric power is supplied from the power storage device to the motor so as to generate vehicle driving power. On the other hand, during traveling on a downhill or deceleration, electric power generated by regenerative braking of the motor is supplied to the power storage device. Accordingly, the power storage device is repeatedly discharged and charged during vehicle traveling, so that control is required to manage a state of charge (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "SOC") of the power storage device during the vehicle traveling. It should be noted that the SOC represents a ratio of a currently remaining capacity to a fully charged capacity. Generally, charging/discharging of the power storage device is controlled such that the SOC does not fall out of a predetermined control range.
As one manner of such SOC control for the electrically powered vehicle, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-134602 (PTD 1) discloses a regenerative energy control device for a hybrid vehicle configured to store regenerative energy, which is generated during regenerative operation of the motor for driving, in a battery as electric energy. According to Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-134602 (PTD 1), when the battery cannot recover the regenerative energy, the motor for electric power generation is controlled to flow, in the motor for electric power generation, a d-axis current having a magnitude corresponding to the amount of regenerative energy that cannot be recovered by the battery. In this way, the excess of the electric energy can be recovered as heat loss of the motor for electric power generation.
Further, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-196404 (PTD 2) discloses a hybrid control device configured to consume an excess of electric power using an air conditioning device, when electric power generated by regenerative braking of the motor exceeds permissible charging power for the battery.

Electrically powered vehicle and method for controlling electrically powered vehicle


In the grading of shell eggs passing in a stream through a candling bed, images of the eggs are compared with image data characteristic of eggs of known grade so as to assign a grade to each egg in the stream. Positional information representative of the movement of the eggs is combined with the assigned grade to control a mechanical egg routing device. Images of multiple egg streams may be multiplexed and processed together. The images may be Fourier transformed before comparison.

The inspection of eggs to assess their wholesomeness is an essential part of quality control. Modern egg handling and grading facilities have highly automated egg washing, weighing, grading and packaging equipment yet still depend to a large degree on human operators for the inspection and grading of the eggs. This operation is commonly referred to as candling.
The process of candling and the routing of eggs to selected lines for appropriate handling is well developed. Currently, operators visually identify faulty or flawed eggs in a moving stream of eggs passing through an inspection station, or candling booth, and with the aid of manual controls they notify the grading equipment to identify and route the eggs to the appropriate packing station.
By way of example, on a modern egg grading machine such as the "Diamond 8200" (Registered trade mark) automatic grader two operators view eggs as they are passed over high intensity lights while being slowly rotated. During this operation various faults or flaws are identified by the operators. Eggs that are "leakers" or broken pieces are removed by hand at the candling station. All others are either tagged or allowed to pass freely.
First quality (grade) eggs are allowed to flow directly to the main packing station, whilst defective or lesser grade eggs are allocated to one of up to four alternative packing stations. On the "Diamond 8200" grader, allocation of lesser grade eggs is performed within the candling booth using two wands, which are integrated with the grading machine control system. Each wand serves half the egg stream proceeding through the candling booth and is equipped with a finger grip at one end containing two buttons with a third button or "tip" located at its other extremity. To activate the wand, the "tip" is touched onto the surface of the egg to be graded by the operator. This action indicates a fault and when used in conjunction with the other two buttons, four categories can be identified. Similar systems of fault identification are used with other makes of automatic grading machines.
The disadvantages of current manual egg candling systems include:
(a) A full capacity system requires at least two highly skilled operators at any one time. PA0 (b) Operators must be vigilant at all times; with flow rates in excess of 45000 eggs/hour the operators experience high levels of fatigue and occupational stress. PA0 (c) Lack of attention or misjudgment allows undergrade eggs to pass, resulting in poor quality eggs reaching the marketplace. Often operators over-compensate and tend to "overpull" by routing first quality eggs to lesser grades, with consequential economic loss to the producer.

Method and apparatus for grading shell eggs


Images are reconstructed using multi-slice rebinning of raw data to create a stack of two-dimensional data sets. A three-dimensional image is reconstructed slice-by-slice from the data sets and the rebinned data is axially filtered to reduce blurring resulting from the rebinning, the filtering being performed either before or after reconstruction of the three-dimensional image.

This invention relates to a method for three dimensional image reconstruction from data acquired in a positron emission tomograph ("PET"), typically for medical imaging purposes.
In positron emission tomography ("PET"), the location of a positron source within the tissues of a living subject is determined by detection of the oppositely directed gamma rays, known as "lines of response" or "coincidence lines", which result from so-called "annihilation events", electron collisions with emitted positrons. By simultaneously detecting the location of the two gamma rays, information may be derived concerning the location of the positron source. The aggregate of such information can be used to construct an image.
Energy carried by the gamma rays is typically sensed by detectors disposed in an array about the subject under study. The detectors convert the energy carried by the gamma rays, to record the position of the events which gave rise to the rays. Electrical signals representative of the detected gamma rays may be processed by a system which typically includes a programmed digital computer capable of processing the position data to form an image of the structure, organ or patient under examination.
Since the gamma radiation resulting from positron annihilation travels approximately collinearly and in opposite directions, sensing coincidence in time of rays extending in opposite directions establishes the occurrence of an event, and, as will be described, the location of the event as well.
Numerous positron emission tomography scanners have been described in the prior art.
Most commercially available PET scanners have used detectors comprised of many discrete scintillation crystals, optically coupled to individual photomultiplier tubes disposed around the field of view containing the image volume. Some prior art attempts to enhance image resolution in PET have involved the use of larger numbers of detectors, or alternatively, a reduced although still numerous number of detectors mounted in a movable array.
G. Muehllehner et al. have heretofore proposed and constructed a positron tomograph capable of achieving high spatial resolution while avoiding the complexity of individual photomultipliers ("PMTs") coupled to individual small detectors. G. Muehllehner, J. S. Karp, D. A. Mankoff et al.: Design and Performance of a New Positron Tomograph. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 670-674 (1988). Such devices feature and are capable of exploiting large area modular position-sensitive detector crystals, coupled to an array of PMTs. In one such type of device, produced and sold by UGM Medical Systems, Inc., of Philadelphia, Pa., as the "PENN-PET" scanner, a hexagonally arranged array of six large area position-sensitive sodium iodide (NaI(T1)) crystals is used, each crystal being coupled to an array of thirty PMTs arranged in three rows of ten. J. S. Karp., G. Muehllehner, D. A. Mankoff et al.: Continuous Slice PENN-PET: A Positron Tomograph With Volume Imaging Capability. J. Nucl. Med., Vol. 31, No. 5, pp. 616-627 (1990).
Detectors of the above type have good spatial resolution in both the transverse and the axial directions, and the axial field of view of the detectors has been increasing steadily. Such detectors can identify a very large number of different coincidence lines through the three-dimensional space between opposing detector modules.
In devices such as the above-mentioned PENN-PET scanner, sensed coincidence lines are not constrained, as by septa or other means, to planes perpendicular to the longitudinal (z) axis of the field of view. Indeed, in such scanners the coincidence lines are oblique for most detected photon pairs, and reconstruction algorithms must therefore be devised to handle the fully-three dimensional ("3D") raw data from the detector system.
Two different approaches have been used to reconstruct from raw data. These may be called for convenience the "single-slice rebinning" approach and the "fully-3D" approach. The single-slice rebinning approach assigns each oblique coincidence line to a particular two dimensional ("2D") sinogram associated with a transverse slice of the volume. The reconstruction of the resulting stack of sinograms proceeds in a slice-by-slice fashion using conventional 2D algorithms known to those skilled in the art. This approach involves certain geometrical approximations (See: M. E. Daube-Witherspoon and G. Muehllehner, Treatment of Axial Data In Three-Dimensional PET, J. Nucl. Med., Vol. 28, pp. 1717-1724 (1987)), but it requires the least possible amount of computation and data storage capability. Fully-3D reconstruction algorithms, both iterative and non-iterative, process oblique coincidence lines without making geometrical approximations, but image reconstruction using either kind of fully-3D algorithm requires a considerable amount of computation.

Three dimensional image reconstruction for a positron emission tomograph


An IGBT comprises a drain, a highly doped p-type substrate layer, a highly doped n-type buffer layer, a drift layer, a p-type base layer, a highly doped n-type source region layer and a source electrode. A trench is etched in the base layer and an insulating layer with a gate electrode thereon is arranged on the base layer from the source region layer to the drift layer for the creation of a conducting inversion channel there. A contact portion is provided vertically separated from the source region layer and has the source electrode applied thereon for collecting holes injected from the substrate layer to the drift layer at a vertical distance from the source region layer.

Such IGBTs may especially be used as switching devices in power applications where they are very advantageous since they combine the preferred characteristic of bipolar junction transistor and MOSFETs, namely low conduction losses in the on-state, especially in devices with larger blocking voltages, and the possibility to be quickly turned on and off. These excellent switching properties of the IGBTs have in the past years resulted in a replacement of other semiconductor switching devices by IGBTs in many applications, but a significant research has been carried out for optimizing the function of these devices since they have in spite of the characteristics previously mentioned some not neglectible drawbacks.
This type of semiconductor device is particularly well suited for high power applications, and the invention is therefore especially occupied with the problem of providing an IGBT having SiC as semiconductor material, since it would then be possible to benefit from the superior properties of SiC in comparison with, especially Si; namely the capability of SiC to function well under extreme conditions. SiC has a high thermal stability due to its large bandgap energy, such devices fabricated from the material are able to operate at high temperatures, namely up to 1000.degree. K. Furthermore, it has a high thermal conductivity, so that SiC devices may be arranged with a high density. SiC also has a more than five times higher breakdown field than Si so that it is well suited as a material in high power devices operating under conditions where high voltages may occur in the blocking state of a device. An IGBT made of this material has particularly low conduction losses in the on-state compared to a MOSFET. However, it is emphasized that the invention is not in any way restricted to this choice of semiconductor material, but any semiconductor material, such as Si, is conceivable.
Furthermore, such a trench does not have to be as deep as in normally so called trench IGBTs, but it may be considerably more shallow.
The major example of the drawbacks mentioned above of prior art IGBTs arises from the fact that an IGBT has three pn-junctions in series and thereby a thyristor-like structure, which results in problems with so called latchup in its on-state. This problem as well as other drawbacks related thereto, will now be explained while referring to FIG. 1 of the appended drawings which illustrates a prior art IGBT having superimposed: a drain 1'; a highly doped p-type substrate layer 2' for forming good ohmic contact to the drain; a highly doped n-type buffer layer 3'; a low doped n-type drift layer 4'; a p-type base layer 5', which preferably is moderately doped, but may also be differently doped in different regions thereof; a highly doped n-type source region layer 6'; and a source 7'. The device also has a trench 8' carried out in the base layer 5', and the walls and the bottom of the trench are covered with an insulating layer 9' and a gate electrode 10 on top thereof.
By applying a voltage above a threshold voltage value to the gate electrode 10' a conducting inversion channel may be created at the interface between the base layer 5' and the insulating layer 9' for the conduction of electrons from the source region layer 7' to the drift layer 4' thereby turning the device on. The device may very quickly be turned off by cutting off the voltage supply to the gate electrode. This is the normal operation of the IGBT, but this function is only there in a so-called safe operating area (SOA), and outside this area the following mechanism will appear.
Since an IGBT has a highly doped substrate layer 2', the electron current (indicated by arrow 11') flowing through the inversion channel and toward the drain causes a substantial hole injection from the substrate layer 2' into the drift layer 4'. The holes move across the drift layer taking a variety of paths 12', and reach the base layer 5', and they will also move toward the source 7' for recombining with electrons from the source. Such hole paths 12' will go around the lower trench corner 13', since the holes are attracted by the negative charge of the electrons in the inversion channel thereby resulting in an electrical field concentration there, which may, when it is high enough, cause the insulating layer to burn there and the device to be destroyed. Furthermore, the paths 12' will accordingly extend laterally through the base layer below the highly doped n-type source region layer 6' and will feel the lateral spreading resistance indicated at 14' of the base layer. This in turn results in a lateral voltage drop in the base layer along the junction between the base layer 5' and the source region layer 6'. This tends to forward bias the junction, and if the voltage is large enough, substantial injection of electrons from the source region layer into the base layer will occur and the parasitic thyristor composed of the two parasitic npn and pnp transistors created this way will latch on and a latchup of the IGBT will thereby have occurred. Once the IGBT is in a latchup state, the gate no longer has any control of the drain current. The IGBT may then only be turned off in the same way as a conventional thyristor. If the latchup is not terminated quickly, the IGBT will be destroyed by excessive power dissipation. There is a critical value of drain current which will cause a large enough lateral voltage drop to activate the thyristor.
Attempts have been made to tackle these problems, and a trench-IGBT according to the introduction has been described by Constapel, Korec and Baliga in "Proceedings of 1995 International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices and ICs, Yokohama". It also described that IGBT has an additional, highly doped, p-type layer located at the bottom of the trench in the drift layer, next to the insulating layer separating the drift layer from the gate electrode. The holes otherwise injected into the base layer during forward conduction and going under the source region layer and thereby causing a lateral voltage drop will now instead, or in any case a larger fraction thereof, enter the highly doped additional layer and be diverted through a separate diverting circuit to the source of the device. As a result, a higher drain current may be accepted than in the prior art devices according to FIG. 1 and the safe operating area may be increased. However, it is a disadvantage of this device that a separate diverting circuit has to be applied for the holes. Furthermore, it would, of course, be desirable to extend the safe operating area of such an IGBT further.

Insulated gate bipolar transistor having a trench


In some examples, a system detects a highlighted area in an image content, the highlighted area including a portion of the image content, and a highlighting mark that highlights the portion of the image content. The system applies a color adjustment process in the highlighted area, wherein the color adjustment process comprises adjusting a color of the highlighted area comprising the portion of the image content highlighted by the highlighting mark, and wherein the adjusting of the color of the highlighted area comprises adjusting color values of plural color components in a first color space.

A scanner can refer to a device that obtains an image of a physical object using a sensor (or multiple sensors). An example of a scanner is a device into or onto which a document can be fed or placed, where the device has a scanning sensor (or multiple scanning sensors) to acquire an image of the content of the document. As another example, a camera can be used to capture an image of a document.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


A drawer assembly, a financial transaction terminal and a method for manipulating the drawer assembly with respect to a financial transaction terminal. The financial transaction terminal uses a merchant card to record information pertaining to transactions between two parties, e.g., a customer and a merchant. The merchant card is held within the drawer assembly such that the merchant card is automatically inserted into the terminal when the drawer assembly is inserted into the terminal. Additionally, the merchant card is automatically removed from the terminal when the drawer assembly is removed from the terminal. The drawer assembly is removably connected to the terminal via a movable tab member. Depression of the tab member both releases the drawer assembly and applies pressure on the merchant card to thereby facilitate removal of the merchant card from the terminal. The drawer assembly and the merchant card can thus be inserted into and removed from a bottom side of the financial transaction terminal without requiring that the terminal be flipped over.

This invention relates generally to a point of sale financial transaction terminal and more particularly to a drawer for facilitating insertion and removal of a merchant card (smart card) and a method for manipulating the drawer and merchant card with respect to the terminal.
A merchant card, i.e., smart card, is typically a credit-card sized plastic card with an embedded computer chip and a physical connector on the surface of the card. The chip may either be a microprocessor with an internal memory or a memory chip with a non-programmble logic. The use of smart cards (hereinafter xe2x80x9cmerchant cardsxe2x80x9d) has gained widespread acceptance as evidenced by the number of existing applications as well as those currently being developed, especially in the financial industry. One such application for the merchant card is a recordation of financial transactions between two parties (e.g., customer and merchant).
Point-of-sale (xe2x80x9cPOSxe2x80x9d) financial transaction terminals are one type of device in which the above-described application may be transacted. In these types of terminals, a merchant card is typically housed within the terminal and collects information pertinent to financial transactions between a merchant and various customers. In this respect, POS financial transaction terminals possessing a merchant card are used, for example, to record the amount of the purchase made with a customer card (e.g., debit or charge card) and credited directly to the merchant card. In other words, the transaction amount is debited from the customer card and credited to the merchant card. Thus, the merchant card may be a useful tool to for a merchant to collect payment from his or her customers. As such, the merchant card may also be potentially valuable and thus a target for would-be criminals.
It is thus advantageous for the merchant to remove the merchant card for safe storage and/or deposit into a financial institution after the merchant card has recorded a sufficient number of transactions or at the end of a business day. In this regard, the merchant card may be removably placed within the financial transaction terminals. However, in an effort to deter would-be thieves, merchant cards are generally positioned in relatively hidden and inaccessible areas of the terminals. For example, merchant cards are typically positioned on a bottom side of the transaction terminals. As an added measure, merchant cards are typically housed within the terminal with a cover threadably fastened to the housing of the terminal.
Although these types of terminals may provide some level of protection against theft, they suffer from a variety of drawbacks and disadvantages. For instance, due to the positioning and fastening of the merchant cards, an increased possibility of merchant cards becoming damaged exists. That is, to remove the merchant cards, the entire terminal must be flipped over and a tool (e.g., screwdriver) is required to remove a cover member. Thereafter, the merchant card is manually removed from its connection to the terminal. This series of maneuvers can be quite cumbersome and the likelihood that the terminal and/or the merchant card will become damaged arises.
Known transaction terminals of this type also typically include a number of multi-Security Access Module (xe2x80x9cSAMxe2x80x9d) connectors, as well as, the SAMs inserted within the connectors. Additionally, these terminals include a merchant card connector and a merchant card. In certain situations, all of the above-cited components of the terminals must be accessed by the merchant (e.g., when the SAMs or merchant card must be replaced). In order to allow access to these components by the merchant, known terminals of this type are typically rather large. These types of terminals are rather disadvantageous because they require a large amount of counter space, which merchants generally require for other devices (e.g., cash register, scanners, etc.).
Moreover, in known transaction terminals of this type, the merchant card is normally inserted directly into the merchant card connector of the transaction terminal. This type of connection is disadvantageous because it positions the merchant card to a greater possibility of damage. For instance, because the merchant card is directly inserted into the merchant card connector without any outside support, the physical connector of the merchant card is susceptible of suffering surface damage.
Accordingly, there is a need for a financial transaction terminal in which the position of the merchant card is relatively hidden from view and which can be inserted and removed from the terminal without requiring that the terminal be turned over. Additionally, a merchant card cover which can be removed without a tool is desirable.
In addition, there is a need for a relatively small financial transaction terminal having sufficient space to allow for rather easy access to the multi-SAMs and the merchant card as well as the their respective connectors.
Furthermore, it is advantageous to have a terminal which effectively protects the merchant card during insertion thereof into the terminal.
In accordance with one aspect, the present invention pertains to a drawer assembly for covering multi-secure access module connectors and a merchant card connector housed within a cavity of a financial transaction terminal. The drawer assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first member is connected to the second member to thereby form a space therebetween for receiving and holding a merchant card. The second member includes a movable tab member having an upper surface and a lower surface, the tab member extending from an end of the second member. The drawer assembly is capable of securedly holding and positioning a merchant card for insertion into and removal from the financial transaction terminal and the drawer assembly is capable of interconnecting with the terminal. When the merchant card is positioned in the drawer assembly, a downward movement of the movable tab causes the drawer assembly to become released from the terminal, such that removal of the drawer assembly causes the merchant card to disengage from the merchant card connector to thereby facilitate removal of the merchant card from the financial transaction terminal.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention relates to a financial transaction terminal for transferring credit information from a customer card to a merchant card. The terminal includes a housing having an upper side and a bottom side, a cavity for allowing access to at least one multi-secure access module connector and a merchant card connector formed in the bottom side of the terminal. The cavity has a generally downwardly extending lip provided at a front part of the cavity. The terminal also includes a drawer assembly capable of being removably inserted over the cavity to substantially cover the cavity. A merchant card is securedly and removably held in a space formed in the drawer assembly, such that the merchant card is inserted into the merchant card connector when the drawer assembly is generally fully inserted into the cavity and the merchant card is removed from the merchant card connector when the drawer assembly is removed from the cavity.
According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method of manipulating a merchant card with respect to a financial transaction terminal. The financial transaction terminal having a merchant card connector positioned in a cavity located in a bottom portion of the terminal. In the method, a drawer assembly having a tab member is provided for substantially covering the cavity. A rear end of the merchant card is positioned into a space defined in the drawer assembly, such that the merchant card is substantially securely maintained within the drawer assembly. The drawer assembly and merchant are inserted into the cavity to thereby substantially cover the cavity, such that the merchant card is substantially simultaneously inserted into the merchant card connector.

Removable merchant card drawer and method for using same


Methods, apparatus, and processor-readable storage media for data integration demand management using artificial intelligence are provided herein. An example computer-implemented method includes obtaining at least one data integration demand, wherein the at least one data integration demand comprises textual information provided by at least one user; determining multiple parameters of the at least one data integration demand by applying one or more machine learning natural language processing techniques to at least a portion of the textual information provided by the at least one user; generating at least one delivery date prediction for the at least one data integration demand by applying one or more artificial intelligence techniques to the multiple determined parameters of the at least one data integration demand; and performing one or more automated actions based at least in part on the at least one generated delivery date prediction.

Applications routinely exchange data, and data integration demands commonly accompany the exchanges, possibly in the form of one or more requests. Such integration services facilitate communication between information processing systems. Conventional data integration demand management techniques include estimating delivery dates for data integration demands manually via time-intensive and labor-intensive processes. However, such conventional techniques are prone to human error and/or lack accuracy, which can negatively affect user experience and enterprise efficiencies.

Data integration demand management using artificial intelligence


In a coil component and a method for manufacturing the same, a winding part of a coil is grown by plating so as to extend between resin walls of a resin body provided before the coil is grown by plating. The resin wall is interposed between adjacent turns of the winding part of the coil during the plating growth, and therefore contact between adjacent turns of the winding part of the coil cannot occur.

Coil components such as surface mount-type planar coil elements are conventionally used in various electrical products such as household devices and industrial devices. In particular, small portable devices have come to be required to obtain two or more voltages from a single power source to drive individual devices due to enhanced functions. Therefore, surface mount-type planar coil elements are used also as power sources to satisfy such a requirement.
Such coil components are disclosed in, for example, following Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-310716, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-089765, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-201375. The coil components disclosed in these documents each include a substrate, planar spiral air core coils provided on front and back surfaces of the substrate, and a through-hole conductor provided so as to pass through the substrate at magnetic cores of the air core coils to connect the air core coils to each other.


This invention comprises a scintillation proximity assay designed to assay for the presence of N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, also known as GalNAc-transferase. The assay is most conveniently carried out on 96-well microtiterplates. The assay is especially suitable for large volume screens for compounds affecting GalNAc-transferase activity.

Mucin type O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides have been described on a wide variety of protein molecules (Sadler, 1984). These structures constitute essential components in an equally wide variety of biological functions (e.g., Paulson, 1989; Jentoft, 1990 and references therein). The initial reaction in the biosynthesis of O-linked oligosaccharides is the transfer of N-acetylgalactosamine from the nucleotide sugar, UDP-N-acetylgalactosmine, to a serine or threonine residue on the acceptor polypeptide. This reaction, which can occur post-translationally, is catalyzed by a GalNAc-transferase enzyme (GalNAcT) called, UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide,N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase. This is an intracellular membrane bound enzyme believed to be localized in the secretory pathway.
The exact location(s) of GalNAc-transferases in in vivo systems is not precisely known. It has been reported that the initial addition of N-acetylgalactosamine to the acceptor protein can take place early (even co-translationally) in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Other authors have suggested that this reaction is a post-translational event occurring in later ER compartments and/or in the cis region of the Golgi complex (e.g. Hanover et al. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257:10172-10177; Roth (1984) J. Cell Biol. 98:399-406; Elhammer and Kornfeld (1984) J. Cell Biol. 98:327-331; Tooze et al. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 106:1475-1487; Deschuyteneer et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263:2452-2459; Ulmer and Palade (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 89:663-667; Wertz et al. (1989) J. Virol. 63:4767-4776; Piller et al. (1989) Eur. J. Biochem. 183:123-135; Piller et al. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265:9264-9271.
Evidence has also been presented for a model in which transfer of N-acetylgalactosamine to Ser/Thr may occur in several compartments in the secretory pathway, including compartments later than the Golgi complex (Schachter and Brockhausen (1992) in Glycoconjugates, Allen and Kisailus, eds., pp. 263-332, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York). Elongation and termination of O-linked oligosaccharides is accomplished by sequential addition of individual monosaccharides by specific transferases (Roseman (1970) Chem. Phys. Lipids 5:270-280); current data suggest that these reactions are localized primarily in the Golgi apparatus (Schachter and Brockhausen, supra).
Enzyme-mediated synthesis of O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides offer significant advantages over the classical synthetic organic pathways, producing very high yields of carbohydrates (e.g., oligosaccharides and/or polysaccharides), under mild conditions in aqueous solutions, and without generating notable amounts of undesired side products. However, an absolute prerequisite for this type of synthesis is the availability of cloned glycosyltransferases.
Endogenous enzymes can be isolated from most eucaryotic sources; however, these proteins are only found in low concentrations, so this is generally a difficult, time consuming procedure, yielding amounts of purified enzymes which are insufficient for in vitro synthesis work. Another complication is that the endogenous enzymes invariably are membrane bound, this complicates purification and in vitro uses of the enzyme. A cloned enzyme, on the other hand, can usually be expressed as a soluble enzyme with comparative ease.
In light of the considerable value of carbohydrates, there is accordingly a strong felt need for fast and quick assays of GalNAc-transferase.
Assays for GalNAc-transferase activity typically involve incubation of the activity containing preparation with radioactively labeled UDP-GalNAc and either an intact acceptor protein (e.g., basic myelin protein), a fragment(s) of a deglycosylated protein (e.g., various apomucins) or a synthetic peptide (e.g., Hagopian et al., 1971; Hagopian and Eylar, 1968; Young et al., 1979; Wang et al., 1992; Elhammer et al., 1993). The acceptor (sequence) requirements of the enzyme have recently been elucidated to a considerable extent and synthesis of efficient acceptor peptides can be accomplished quite readily (O'Connel et al., 1992; Wang et al., 1993; Elhammer et al., 1993). Following transfer of the radioactive sugar to the polypeptide acceptor, the product is isolated and the amount of enzymatic transfer quantitated by measuring the amount of radioactivity incorporated into the acceptor. Thus, in principle, assays for GalNAc-transferase activity are comparatively straight-forward.
A considerable technical problem associated with these assays, however, is the isolation of the glycosylated reaction product. For peptide acceptors, methods employed to date include chromatography on ion-exchange, size exclusion or reverse phase columns and, for protein acceptors, various (e.g., TCA) precipitation procedures. In the former case, a number of chromatography columns have to be prepared, equilibrated and developed for each experiment, in the latter, extensive washing procedures have to be carried out in order to reduce background radioactivity. Hence, typical GalNAc-transferase assays (using either acceptor) are both labor intense and time-consuming.
Here we describe a novel approach for the quantitation of the reaction products in GalNAc-transferase assays that employs fewer steps, takes less time, and is much more suitable than other assays currently available for screening for GalNAc-transferase.

Scintillation proximity assay for N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase activity


Method and apparatus for providing high strength, low frequency tactile sensations using an inertial actuator in a haptic feedback interface device, such as an actuator driving an oscillating inertial mass. A commanded low frequency is modulated or combined with a higher frequency at which the tactile sensations feel stronger, where the resulting signal is used to output a tactile sensation at the higher frequency and convey the commanded low frequency to the user. One embodiment provides higher frequency pulse bursts at the desired low frequency wherein the higher frequency pulse bursts are at or near a resonant frequency of the actuator; other embodiments modulate or otherwise vary the amplitude of the higher frequency signal according to the desired low frequency.

The present invention relates generally to interface devices for allowing humans to interface with computer systems, and more particularly to low-cost computer interface devices that allow the user to provide input to computer systems and allow computer systems to provide tactile feedback to the user.
A user can interact with an environment displayed by a computer to perform functions and tasks on the computer, such as playing a game, experiencing a simulation or virtual reality environment, using a computer aided design system, operating a graphical user interface (GUI), etc. Common human-computer interface devices used for such interaction include a mouse, joystick, trackball, gamepad, steering wheel, stylus, tablet, pressure-sensitive sphere, remote control, or the like. Typically, the computer updates the environment in response to the user's manipulation of a manipulandum or user object such as a joystick handle or mouse, and provides visual and audio feedback to the user. The computer senses the user's manipulation of the user object using sensors provided on the interface device.
In some interface devices, haptic feedback is also provided to the user. These types of interface devices can provide physical sensations which are felt by the user manipulating the user object of the interface device. One or more motors or other actuators are coupled to the device housing or manipulandum and are connected to the controlling computer system. The computer system controls forces output by the actuators in conjunction and coordinated with displayed events. The computer system can thus convey physical force sensations to the user in conjunction with other supplied feedback as the user is grasping or contacting the interface device or manipulatable object of the interface device.
In many haptic feedback devices, the haptic feedback takes the form of vibrations, jolts, or pulses output on the housing or manipulandum which are experienced by the user, referred to as "tactile" sensations herein. For example, many gamepad devices include a spinning eccentric mass that creates inertial vibrations on the housing or object. Other devices, such as the I-Feel Mouse from Logitech Corp., provide inertial vibrations using a linearly-moving mass. Still other devices may vibrate a housing or object by impacting or directly moving the housing or object with the actuator.
One problem with current haptic feedback devices is that tactile sensations output to the user tend to be more effective in particular frequency ranges and less effective in other frequency ranges. For example, vibrations output on the housing by an inertial haptic feedback device often feel strong to the user at higher frequencies of vibration, but often feel less strong to the user at lower frequencies. In linearly-moving mass embodiments, for example, this is due to the inertial mass moving slower for lower frequency vibrations, so that the mass does not accelerate as much and causes tactile sensations that feel less strong. In addition, the mass might be pressed against the limits of its range of motion during most of the cycle time of the vibration, providing less force to be felt by the user.
Another problem with moving mass haptic feedback devices is that combining commanded effects may cause the mass to oscillate about a point close to an end of travel of the mass. This may cause the mass to hit the end of travel before it has completed the desired oscillation, thus clipping the output sensation and reducing its fidelity. In addition, output forces may be reduced in strength when the mass operates near an end of travel due to a physical spring coupled to the mass, since such spring resistance is strongest near the end of travel.

Providing enhanced haptic feedback effects