A digital demodulator includes a mixing section, 1st and 2nd digital comb filters, phase locked loop module, and a data recovery module. The mixing section is operably coupled to produce a digital I signal and a digital Q signal from a digital intermediate frequency signal. The 1st comb filter filters the digital I signal while the 2nd comb filter filters the digital Q signal. The phase locked loop module produces a digital signal from the filtered I and filtered Q signals. The data recovery module interprets the digital signal to recapture a data stream.

The use of wireless communication for in-home, in-building networks and point-to-point communications is increasing in popularity and spawning relatively new standards including, but not limited to Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11a, and IEEE 802.11b. As is known for wireless communications, data is modulated on to at least one radio frequency (RF) carrier frequency and transmitted as a RF modulated signal by a radio transmitter. A radio receiver receives the RF modulated signal and demodulates it to recapture the data.
As is further known, there are a variety of modulation/demodulation protocols that may be used for wireless communications. Such modulation/demodulation protocols include amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), amplitude shift-keying (ASK), frequency shift-keying (FSK), phase shift-keying (PSK), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), or variations thereof. As is also known, Bluetooth utilizes an FSK modulation/demodulation protocol, while IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11b utilize OFDM and/or a form of PSK for its modulation/demodulation protocol.
Regardless of the particular modulation/demodulation protocol, a radio receiver generally includes an antenna section, a filtering section, a low noise amplifier, an intermediate frequency (IF) stage, and a demodulator. In operation, the antenna section receives RF modulated signals and provides them to the filtering section, which passes RF signals of interest to the low noise amplifier. The low noise amplifier amplifies the received RF signals of interest and provides them as amplified RF signals to the IF stage. The IF stage includes one or more local oscillators, one or more mixers, and one or more adders to step-down the frequency of the RF signals of interest to an intermediate frequency or to base-band. The IF stage provides the intermediate frequency signals or base-band signals to the demodulator, which, based on the demodulation protocol, recaptures the data.
A demodulator may be implemented using analog and/or digital circuitry. Digital demodulators are generally better suited for use in an integrated circuit (IC) radio receiver than analog demodulators because of reduced sensitivity to noise and less IC real estate intensive. Such demodulators typically require high order low pass filters and sophisticated DC offset correction circuitry.
Such high order low pass filters are typically required to pass the frequencies of interest and sharply attenuate other frequencies (e.g., at a rate of −60 dB/decade). To achieve such a large roll-off, digital high order low pass filters require a significant amount of logic circuits including multipliers.
For FSK demodulation, such as used in Bluetooth, the DC offset correction circuitry corrects for frequency differences between the local oscillations of IF stage in the transmitter section of a sending radio and in the receiver section of the receiving radio. Presently, such DC offset correction circuitry performs peak and valley detection to identify a peak and valley. From these values a DC value is determined (e.g., typically a midpoint between the peak and valley). The peak and valley values are continuously updated, thus the DC value is also continually updated. While this continuous updating allows for fast and continuous correction of the DC offset value, such circuitry is subject to false peak and/or valley detection. When a false peak or valley is detected, an error results in the DC value, which adversely affects the performance of a wireless radio.
Therefore, a need exists for a reliable, low cost, reduced complexity, and reduced integrated circuit real estate digital demodulator for use in integrated circuit radios and/or integrated circuit radio receivers.


A packaging container for elongated objects that includes an outer sleeve (1) with at least one threaded section (4) and an inner sleeve (2) with at least one toothed or threaded strip (3) that can be brought into threaded engagement with the threaded section (4) such that the inner sleeve can be screwed into the interior of the outer sleeve (1). The at least one threaded section (4) is interrupted by at least one sliding strip (5) that is aligned in the longitudinal direction of said packaging container and that interrupts the threaded section (4), the width of the sliding strip (5) being greater than the width of the toothed or threaded strip (3).

Field of the Invention
The presently disclosed invention relates to packaging containers for elongated objects. In an embodiment, the packaging container includes an outer sleeve that has at least one threaded section on the outer circumference and an inner sleeve that fits inside the outer sleeve. The packaging container has a bayonet twist closure wherein the treaded section of the outer sleeve may be threadingly engageable with at least one toothed or threaded strip that is located on the outside circumference of the inner sleeve such that the inner sleeve can be screwed into the interior of the outer sleeve.
Discussion of the Prior Art
Packaging containers such as disclosed in DE 28 51 096 C2 are known. In such packaging containers, the bayonet twist closure includes an elongated toothed or threaded strip that extends along the wall in the longitudinal direction and that is disposed on the outside circumference of the inner sleeve. A threaded section is disposed on the opposite or facing side of the outer sleeve in the mouth area of the outer sleeve. The threaded section corresponds to the toothed or threaded strip and can be engaged with the toothed or threaded strip.
The advantage of such a packaging container is that the total length of the packaging container can be adapted to the object disposed in the interior. Depending on the extent to which the inner sleeve is inserted into the outer sleeve and is locked in place in the outer sleeve, the object may be in contact with the bottom surface of the inner sleeve and the bottom surface of the outer sleeve at both ends and may thus be held therein without any play.
However, the packaging container according to DE 28 51 096 C2 has the disadvantage that a continuous thread is provided. The disadvantage is that the inner sleeve must be turned through multiple turns of the inner sleeve relative to the stationary outer sleeve (or vice versa) until achieving the desired package length.
With this type of packaging, it is known that the inner sleeve can be inserted into the outer sleeve—as seen in the longitudinal direction—so that the toothed or threaded strip disposed on the outside circumference of the inner sleeve is shifted on the circumference of the outer sleeve while overcoming elastically the threaded section. However, the disadvantage of this insertion movement is that the intermeshing parts of the toothed and threaded strip quickly form a seal with the threaded section and then lose their holding force with continued use over time.
Another disadvantage is that with relatively heavy packaging contents (a drill bit, for example), there is a risk that the two sleeve parts may unintentionally twist relative to one another because of the thread pitch of the toothed or threaded strip on the outside circumference of the inner sleeve in comparison with the threaded section on the inside circumference of the outer sleeve, thus unintentionally opening the package.

Packaging container with a bayonet twist closure and free running


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that optimizes a circuit design during a logic design stage to reduce routing congestion during a placement and routing stage. During operation, this system identifies a first circuit structure in the circuit design which is expected to cause routing congestion during the placement and routing stage. Next, the system generates a second circuit structure which is functionally equivalent to the first circuit structure, and is not expected to cause routing congestion during the placement and routing stage. The system then replaces the first circuit structure in the circuit design with the second circuit structure, thereby mitigating routing congestion during the placement and routing stage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electronic design automation. More specifically, the present invention relates to techniques and systems for optimizing a circuit design during a logic design stage to reduce routing congestion during a placement and routing stage.
2. Related Art
Performing a routing operation on a circuit design's netlist is an expensive process which can take several days to complete. To make matters worse, the routing operation is not always guaranteed to succeed. In some situations, standard cell routing does not succeed because a region of the microchip does not have sufficient wiring resources for routing the signal interconnections that exist in that region. This situation is typically known as routing congestion.
Routing congestion is often mitigated by using a cell placement algorithm to complement a routing operation, and produce an optimized physical implementation from the netlist of a circuit design. This placement algorithm attempts to spread out standard cells in areas of the physical implementation where the algorithm believes that congestion will occur. However, many cases still exist where the placement algorithm cannot resolve every congestion issue on the physical implementation.

Congestion optimization during synthesis


The present invention provides a semiconductor device protective structure. The structure comprises a die with contact metal balls formed thereon electrically coupling with a print circuit board. A back surface of the die is directly adhered on a substrate and a first buffer layer is formed on the substrate. The substrate is configured over a second buffer layer such that the second buffer layer substantially encompasses the whole substrate to decrease damage to the substrate when the side of the substrate is collided with an external object.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device structure, and more particularly to a semiconductor device protective structure and method for fabricating the same, the semiconductor device structure can avoid the die or substrate from cracking due to the side of the die or substrate collided with an external object.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically in the electronic component world, integrated circuits (IC's) are fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, known as a chip, and most commonly are made of silicon. The silicon chip is typically assembled into a larger package which serves to provide effective enlargement of the distance or pitch between input/output contacts of the silicon making it suitable for attachment to a printed circuit board, and to protect the IC from mechanical and environmental damage. With the trend moving to more and more features packed into decreasing product envelopes, utilizing ever smaller electronic components to improve upon size and feature densification a constant and formidable challenge is presented to manufacturers of consumer and related articles.
Chip scale packages (CSP) were developed to provide an alternative solution to directly attached flip chips devices. These packages (CSP) represent a new miniature type of semiconductor packaging used to address the issues of size, weight, and performance in electronic products, especially those for consumer products such as telephones, pagers, portable computers, video cameras, etc. Standards have not yet been formalized for CSP, and as a result, many variations exist, and several of which are described in "Chip Scale Package", cited above. In general, the chip is the dominant constituent of a CSP with the area of the package, being no more than 20% greater than the area of the chip itself; but the package has supporting features which make it more robust than direct attachment of a flip chip.
As shown in FIG. 1, it is a side view of a flip chip device 100 according to prior art. The flip chip 100 includes a die 102 with metal pads 105 that typically has a conventionally fabricated IC device structure. The die 102 has a plurality of electrical contacts 104, such as redistribution layer (RDL) trace. Bumps 103, such as solder balls, are formed on the electrical contacts 104. A protection layer 106 covers the electrical contacts 104 to expose the electrical contacts 104 for allowing the solder balls 103. Moreover, a protective film 101 is applied to the bottom surface of the die 102.
The protective film 101 may be formed from any suitable material. For example, the protective film 101 may be formed from a plastic material or epoxy. This epoxy is commonly also used as a glob top material for chip-on-board applications that protects the die 102 and wire bonds. The protective film 101 may have any thickness that substantially prevents chipping during the dicing operation and is suitable for the particular application. For example, the protective film 101 may have a thickness that allows laser marking of the thick film without the laser penetrating the thick film. Preferably, the protective film 101 is between about 1.5 and 5 mils. Most preferably, the protective film is between about 2 and 3 mils.
Furthermore, the substrate of the flip chip or semiconductor device (such as integrated circuit's) has a friability property such that these devices are easily result in cells edge of the wafer fail due to the substrate being lateral damage or cracking owing to the side of the die or the substrate colliding with an external object or applied by an lateral external force. Therefore, the reliability or the life time of the flip chip or semiconductor device will be decrease.
In view of the aforementioned, the present invention provides an improved semiconductor device structure to overcome the above drawback.

Semiconductor device protective structure and method for fabricating the same

Advanced Chip Engineering Technology Inc.


A separator for a fuel cell, comprising a planar panel formed therein with a plurality of manifolds for passing reactive fluid or cooling medium through adjacent cell, and a pair of conductive passage boards superposed with one another, interposing therebetween the planar panel, the passage boards being formed therein with a plurality of meandering through channels for distributing the reactive fluid or the cooling medium from the manifolds, wherein the planar panel being formed therein with slits through which channel defining walls of the meandering through channels of the fluid passages are electrically connected with each other.

The present invention relates to a separator which is one of components in a fuel cell, and also relates to a fuel cell using thereof.
There have been several kinds of fuel cells which are sorted in view of kinds of electrolytes used therein. For example, a phosphate acid fuel cell (PAFC) has a carrier impregnated therein with phosphate, and is adapted to be operated at a temperature in a range from 150 to 220 deg. C. A molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) includes a molded electrolyte carrier made of a mixture of lithium carbonate and potassium carbonate, and is adapted to be operated at a temperature in a range from 600 to 700 deg. C. Further, a solid oxide fuel cell uses, as electrolyte, stabilized zirconium having oxygen ion conductivity, and is adapted to be operated at a temperature from 700 to 1,000 deg. C. Any of the above-mentioned fuel cells utilizes hydrogen, reformed gas, hydrocarbon or the like as a fuel, and air or the like as oxidizer gas.
Among several kinds of fuel cells, a proten exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) or a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) mainly has such a feature that a membrane-like solid electrolyte made of polymer is jointed thereto at its opposite surfaces with carbon electrodes carrying catalyst such as platinum. This will be referred to a membrane electrode assembly (an electrolytic membrane/electrode integral structure) which is abbreviated to "MEA". The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell has such a configuration that the MEA is interposed between a pair of panels called as separators and formed therein with passages for fuel gas (containing hydrogen) and oxidizer gas (oxygen or air).
It is noted that the fluid such as gas as fuel and the fluid such as gas as an oxidizer will be inclusively referred to as reaction gas or reaction fluid. In general, a porous carbon sheet is interposed between the MEA and the separator. This constitutes a gas diffusion layer which can enhance such a function that the reaction gas is efficiently and uniformly fed to electrodes. The above-mentioned components are bundled into a set which is called as a unit cell, and a fuel cell stack is composed of a plurality of unit cells stacked one upon another. The separator has such a roll that the reaction gas is efficiently fed to electrodes, and therefore, when the reaction gas is fed to a fuel cell while an suitable load is applied, an electric power can be produced. In association, heat such as heat of reaction and Joule's heat is also generated. In order to remove the heat, the fuel cell incorporates, in general, a separator for feeding cooling water which passes through a part of the above-mentioned separator.
A separator also has a roll of transferring electric power between adjacent cells with less energy loss, and accordingly, it is, in general, made of carbon group conductive materials and is formed therein with passage channels for ventilating reaction gas and passing cooling medium. It has been considered that a metal sheet or the like is used as a material of the separator as a separator material, in addition to the carbon group material. Since a metal has a low material cost, and can be simply fabricated by stamping, and since a thin sheet metal can be used, it can offer such a merit that the separator can be compact and lightweight, and such a feature that the costs thereof are reduced.
However, in the case of a separator made of metal, should a thin sheet metal be formed therein with passage channels by pressing, it would be difficult to obtain fluid passages having desired depths and widths due to a limitation of workability caused by a process limit to a metal material. Thus, there would be caused such hindrances as non-uniformity of reaction gas streams, and less area of contact with an electrode. As a result, there would be caused such a problem that a desired power generating performance cannot be obtained. Even though a desired channel can be formed, the separator after fabrication would be warped or deformed, or could not have a required degree of finishing accuracy, resulting in leakage of reaction gas or increase in contact resistance.
As another disadvantage caused by the press-formed metal separator, apex tops of channels after fabrication have curvatures, and accordingly, an area of contact with the gas diffusion layer or the like becomes less. As a result, there would be caused such a problem that the resistance is increased.
In the case of making conventional metal separators in contact with one another, there would be caused such a problem that their contact area cannot be obtained sufficiently. That is, since the apices of channels for passage of reaction gas, which are defined by spaces between two separators mated with one another, are not flat, the separators are made into line or point contact with one another, and accordingly, the resistance of contact becomes higher, resulting in difficulty in obtaining a satisfactory performance of power generation. In order to eliminate the above-mentioned problem, JP-A-2003-173791 discloses such a configuration that parts of apices having curvatures are removed so as to be flattened. Further, JP-A-2003-123801 discloses such a configuration that a conductive sheet gasket is interposed between contact surfaces of separators in order to prevent occurrence of voltage drop caused by a resistance of contact at surfaces of cooling water between the separators.
As one of conventional inventions which can effectively solve the above-mentioned problems, there is a separator as disclosed in JP-A-2000-123850 or JP-A-2000-294257. This separator is composed of a metal thin sheet and a carbon paper which is cut so as to form passages in order to serve as a gas passage member. Thus, a single separator can be obtained without press-forming, and accordingly, it can reduce the costs. Further, since the passage part is formed by cutting the carbon paper, the degree of finishing accuracy is high, and further, it has a flat surface making contact with a gas diffusion layer, thereby it is possible to eliminate the above-mentioned problems.
The separator composed of the thin metal sheet and the carbon paper which is cut so as to form passages in order to serve as the gas passage member, as disclosed in JP-A-2000-123850 or JP-A-2003-123801 have several advantages. However, the carbon paper forming the passage part is split into several members, the larger the number of passages, the larger the number of subdivided passage members. As a result, there have been such problems that the number of components constituting a cell is increased, and that the number of manufacturing steps is increased since the components are fastened to one another by conductive materials. Further, in the inventions stated in the above-mentioned patent documents, no countermeasures are considered against corrosion on the metal side which is caused at contact surfaces of the metal separator and the passage part. Thus, there would be caused increase in contact resistance caused by corrosion on the metal side, contamination to electrodes and electrolytic membranes caused by corrosion products, and the like, resulting in deterioration of the fuel cell.


A method for making a cathode active material of a lithium ion battery, the cathode active material being represented by a chemical formula of Li[(Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1)1-xMox]O2, wherein 0<x≦0.05. Source liquid solutions of Li, Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+, and Mo6+ are mixed in stoichiometric ratio in a multi-carboxylic acid solution to form a solution. The solution is heated at 50° C. to 80° C. to form a wet gel. The wet gel is spray dried to form a dry gel. The dry gel is heated at a first temperature and then at a second temperature, the first temperature is in a range of 400° C. to 500° C., the second temperature is in a range of 750° C. to 850° C.

Lithium ion batteries having layered type lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) as cathode electrode and graphite type carbon as anode electrode are widely used in portable electronic devices and are developing for electric vehicle market. LiCoO2 has high capacity, high voltage, long cycling life, and stable electrochemical performance, but scarce cobalt is expensive. In addition, the decomposing of LiCoO2 by heat generated at the discharge state obstructs the applications of lithium ion batteries. To achieve lower price, higher specific capacity, and safety, studies have been made in new types of cathode active materials.
Current research in cathode active material of lithium ion battery has shifted to ternary materials, such as LiNi1-x-yMnxCoyO2, which has the same layered structure as LiCoO2. Particularly, LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 and LiNi0.4Mn0.4Co0.2O2 have similar electrochemical performance to LiCoO2. Compared to LiCoO2, LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 and LiNi0.4Mn0.4Co0.2O2 have lower cost, better thermal stability, and ease of synthesis. However, these two materials have relatively low specific capacity. To improve the specific capacity, increases in the content of Ni in the ternary materials are made, developing a series of high Ni cathode active materials, such as LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2, LiNi0.66Co0.17Mn0.17O2, LiNi0.7Co0.15Mn0.15O2, and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2. LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 not only has a high specific capacity, but also has a good thermal stability.
However, LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 is still less than ideal in terms of specific capacity and capacity retention, and capacity loss after numerous cycles.

Cathode active material and method for making the same

Jiangsu-Huadong Institute of Li-ion Battery Co. Ltd.


In a CDMA communication system (100) capable of communicating between a receiver (20) and a transmitter (10) direct sequence spread spectrum communication signals (30), a system and method for synchronizing receiver bit timing and transmitter timing. Transmitter (10) transmits a training bit sequence (31) followed by a transmitter bit timing sequence (33). The receiver (20) adaptively determines a representation of a despreading chip sequence using a tapped delay line equalizer (400). Receiver bit timing offset is determined based on the representation of the despreading chip sequence and the transmitter bit timing sequence (33).

Code division multiple access (CDMA) communication systems are used extensively in satellite communications with military and commercial applications. These systems are also known as spread spectrum communication systems because the communicated information is spread over a wide allocated frequency spectrum. In CDMA communication systems the frequency spectrum can be reused multiple times.
Because CDMA modulation techniques are inherently more susceptible to fading conditions present at the terrestrial and land mobile environments, their application has been limited to satellite communications. However, with recent advancements in communication signal processing, CDMA communication systems are becoming increasingly popular in terrestrial land mobile communication environments as well. For example, recent developments have allowed CDMA systems to be used in cellular telephone communications environments.
In general, there are two CDMA types of communication systems. One is known as frequency hoping CDMA system where the wide allocated spectrum is divide into a substantial number of narrower frequency band and information signal is switched or "hoped" over these frequency bands in accordance with a predetermined code. The other CDMA system is known as a direct sequence CDMA communication system (DS-CDMA) where the user information signals in the form of binary bits are spread over the allocated frequency spectrum by combining them with spreading codes known as pseudorandom noise (PN) codes. The spreading code comprises a predetermined sequence of binary states known as chips. Thus, when combined, each user information bit interval gets coded with a spreading chip sequence. Conventionally, a DS-CDMA transmitter produces a direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) communication signal by multiplying the user information bit sequences by the spreading chip sequence.
Once received at a receiving end, the DS-SS communication signal is decoded by multiplying the received signal by a despreading chip sequence having corresponding characteristics to the spreading chip sequence. In conventional DS-CDMA communication system, the receiver knows of the spreading chip sequence prior to start of a communication call. Thereafter, the receiver decodes the DS-SS communication signal based on the known spreading chip sequence.
It is well known that in the presence of many users CDMA receivers in addition to receiving the desired signal also receive many multiple-access interfering signals. In presence of multiple access interference, reliable communication may be achieved when interfering signals are received at approximately the same power level. When, there is a large disparity in received signal powers, non-zero crosscorrelations among the signals gives rises to a phenomenon known as near-far problem. In near-far situations, higher power interfering signals significantly degrade reception and decoding of a lower power desired transmission.
One conventional approach to improving the near far problem uses a power control scheme where the powers from the receivers are fed back and transmitter powers are controlled to substantially remove the power disparity. In another approach, PN codes are constructed such that they provide orthogonality between the user codes, thereby reducing mutual interference. This allows for higher capacity and better link performance. With orthogonal PN codes crosscorrelation is zero over a predetermined time interval resulting in no interference between the orthogonal codes provided only that the code time frames are aligned with each other.
In conventional CDMA communication systems the spreading chip sequence is either assigned by a self controller or it is pre-stored within the receiving unit. As such, during despreading and demodulation process, the receiver knows of the spreading chip sequence. A more recent approach for a CDMA receiver proposes an adaptive despreading or demodulating process. In an adaptive CDMA system, the receiver is enabled to suppress multiple access interference by an adaptive equalization process. In such a system, a CDMA transmitter transmits a training bit sequence which is coded with the spreading chip sequence and the receiver adaptively determines, based on the training sequence, the despreading code using a tapped delay line equalizer. Adaptive determination of the despreading chip sequence and suppression of multiple access interference allows significant number of users to communicate with each other over an spread spectrum channel without requiring central control infrastructure, and as such paving the way for infrastructureless communication systems.
However, in adaptive CDMA communication, the determined despreading chip sequence is not time synchronized with the transmitter because of certain time delays within the communication path or simply because the receiver does not know when bit and chip timing of the transmitter starts. Conventional methods of determining bit timing and chip timing offsets between the transmitter and receiver comprise performing correlation routines involving complex mathematical processing operations. These operations are time consuming and therefore delay establishment of communication link between transmitter and receiver. Therefore, there exists a need for a faster synchronization method which could be achieved in significantly shorter period of time than is achievable by conventional methods.

System and method for bit timing synchronization in an adaptive direct sequence CDMA communication system


A carton accommodates stacked, articles. The carton has a pivoting dispenser that allows the articles to be dispensed from the front of the carton. The bottom panel can be erected using relatively simple folding operations.

Dispensing cartons having pivoting dispensers are known. The cartons may accommodate discrete dispensable items through a dispenser opening. Such cartons are typically formed from a blank having front, side and back panels, and a plurality of top and bottom flaps for closing the top and bottom ends of the carton, respectively. The bottom flaps are typically of a complex interlocking configuration, which may require manual closure and/or the use of complex machinery to close the bottom end of the carton.


An LED light device with changeable geometric dimensions includes at least one LED installed within each of a plurality of housing-units connected by connectors which deliver electric signals from a power source to desired LEDs.

The current invention is an improvement over conventional LED light device available in the market place, which are limited to a fixed shape, fixed illumination areas, fixed brightness, fixed viewing angle, fixed design, and a size that is unsuitable for different locations. At present, there is no LED light device can fit anywhere, with a scalable brightness and illumination area, that is bendable to form a wine rack under a cabinet, and that has additional hook functions to hang any items inside a kitchen, living room, bathroom, kids room, entertainment room, garden, patio, boat, car, van, bus, truck, train, airplane, transportation equipment, playground, and/or anywhere outdoors. Accordingly, for reasons of economics and environment concern, an LED light device is needed which has the ability to change its geometric shape to fit anywhere people want power saving LED light kits. The preferred embodiments of the current invention all have optional properties to allow people to create LED light devices having different appearances for a required brightness, including different illumination areas and a self-designed light device shape. Common parts for the housing-unit and connector-unit can form standard equipment to avoid too much plastic, LEDs, or circuit waste to ruin the environment. This is a very green concept made possible by the LED light device of the current invention.
In addition, the current invention provides an LED light device in which the LEDs' orientation, position, or light emitting direction can be changed with its geometricdimensions, thereby allowing the user to create a flexible and changeable shape, dimension, size, position, orientation, illuminated areas, viewing angle, light device value, and light device light photometric performance, to enable the light device to have a universal fit for all kinds of installation areas for different available spaces to improve conventional LED light kits which are limited to a fixed shape, illumination, narrow beam direction and other defects.
The current invention may be incorporated in a connector which has the function of connecting each of a plurality of housing members to change the geometric dimensions of the light device.

LED light device with changeable features of geometric dimension


Vehicle seat articulation mechanism intended to connect two elements belonging to the seat, the articulation mechanism comprising first and second rigid cheek plates extending in parallel planes and intended to be attached respectively to the two seat elements, and an adjustment mechanism connecting the first and second cheek plates and suitable for allowing a relative angular adjustment between the said cheek plates. The first cheek plate is trapped against the second cheek plate by at least one rigid annular gusset which is welded against the inner face of the second cheek plate.

Document DE-A-101 05 282 describes a seat furnished with an articulation mechanism of the type detailed hereinabove, in which the gusset is welded to the second cheek plate by means of a fitted metal sheet which makes the assembly of the mechanism complex, costly and unreliable.
The main objective of the present invention is to remedy these disadvantages.

Vehicle seat articulation mechanism and seat comprising such a mechanism


A method for transporting a cementitious mixture to an underground space includes subjecting the mixture to high-shear mixing to render it temporarily flowable and, while the mixture remains in its flowable state, transporting the mixture to the underground space. After a period of time following the high-shear mixing, the mixture reverts to its initial viscosity and subsequently reacts to form a cementitiously hardened product. The mixture used in the present invention includes flue gas desulfurization sludge, lime, fly ash and water.

It is known to place cementitious mixtures in underground spaces for disposal and for providing resistance to potential subsidence. For example, it is known to use cementitious compositions, including flue gas desulfurization (FGD) sludge, fly ash, lime and water in this manner to provide resistance to potential subsidence. Typically, such compositions are transported into underground tunnels or mine "rooms" through vertical boreholes.
Borehole placement is dependent on the flow characteristics of the cementitious composition. For example, a composition having a relatively low viscosity (i.e., better flow characteristics) will require fewer boreholes to achieve the same void space coverage compared to a composition having a relatively higher viscosity with more boreholes. Maximizing coverage optimizes prevention of subsidence. However, the requirement for a relatively large number of vertical boreholes is a significant cost factor, minimizing the use of this otherwise environmentally and technically desirable concept.
Higher water content also renders cementitious mixtures more readily flowable to facilitate subsurface placement. Addition of water typically reduces viscosity, permits easier pumping and results in greater dispersion to subsurface voids. However, high water content compositions tend to separate after placement, leaving voids in the subsequently hardened composition. This necessitates multiple cycles of placement, separation and hardening to obtain the final fill-up condition. Additionally, higher levels of water are detrimental to the cementitious properties of the FGD waste-containing compositions. Thus, simple addition of water is not an appropriate remedy for this problem.
Unoxidized FGD wastes, which are primarily calcium sulfite as opposed to calcium sulfate, are known to tend toward plasticity or fluidity when vibrated or agitated, and then not regain a solid form. This tendency, historically, has been a negative factor in handling unoxidized FGD waste, as this characteristic results in several plant operational difficulties.
For example, an integral process in FGD waste disposal is "thickening," which is typically a primary dewatering stage from an FGD scrubber. Thickening involves depositing scrubber discharge, usually at about 5 to 10% solids, in a circular vessel with a shallow, conical bottom to allow some settling. Clear supernatent flows over the top lip of the vessel, thereby increasing the solids content of the thickener underflow. Pumping scrubber discharge from an FGD scrubber to a thickener with a pump, which imparts a high-shear force on the fluid, inhibits the calcium sulfite FGD wastes of the scrubber discharge from settling.
A similar problem occurs in the secondary dewatering stage from an FGD scrubber, typically a vacuum filter. In this stage, depending on the quality of material, the solids content exiting the secondary dewatering stage might be from 45 to 80% solids (with a composition having 25 to 50% solids exiting the primary dewatering stage). It has been found that pumped wastes are more difficult to filter.
If a composition is not sufficiently dewatered by the primary and secondary dewatering stages, several problems result. First, material is difficult to handle in this fluidized, flowable form. Further, the slightest mechanical agitation (e.g., by front end loaders or during trucking) reduces the material to its flowable state, thereby making it difficult to handle. Even after placing such material in a landfill, a problem exists. In particular, rubber-tired vehicles encounter difficulty in crossing such a surface, because these vehicles lose traction by tires applying shear stress and agitating the material to return it, on a localized basis, to the flowable state.
Although the fluid flow properties of oxidized FGD wastes (primarily calcium sulfate) are less problematic in general, the above-discussed flow characteristics for unoxidized FGD wastes (primarily calcium sulfite) are notorious. Attempts have been made to avoid the problems mentioned above caused by the shear-induced reduction in viscosity during the processing of FGD sludge. For example, it has been found that positive displacement pumps, which gently transport the material from stage to stage, minimize the shear-induced thixotropic effect.

Method for transporting a cementitious mixture to an underground space


Flow controls that can be inserted in a liquid-supply line or in the accommodating bore of a plumbing fitting. The controls have an essentially cup-shaped mount with perforations through its bottom and a disk of resilient material fits into the perforations. At least the edge of the side of the disk facing the bottom of the cup has a conical bevel of 1.degree. to 5.degree. to the midplane of the disk and narrow ribs and/or sector-shaped webs that extend out essential radially at a prescribed angle around a prescribed circumferential angle.

The present invention concerns flow controls. They can be inserted in a liquid-supply line or in the accommodating bore of a plumbing fitting. They have an essentially cup-shaped mount with perforations through its bottom. A disk of resilient material fits into the perforations.
Flow controls of this type are preferably employed in the fittings and other components of drinking fountains and are in themselves known. When subjected to pressure by a fluid, the resilient disk constricts the perforations such that the volume of flow remains constant over a specified range of pressure differences.
The resulting volumetric flow and its constancy subject to different pressures extensively depends on the shape and dimensions of the resilient disk. Since resilient materials have wide tolerances in such conditions, the ideal volumetric flow cannot be attained and will not remain constant over extensive ranges of pressure difference.
The initial slope of the controls' characteristic curve depends in particular on the shape of the disk. That shape determines at what minimal pressure difference the controls will attain their rated value. Conventional controls often have a slope that is not as steep as desired and only arrive at their nominal volumetric flow at greater pressure differences.
It has also often been observed that flow controls react dynamically to changes in pressure difference rather slowly, exhibiting considerably hysteresis in response to alternately increasing and decreasing pressure. Furthermore, lasting deformations sometimes occur in the disk and will lead over time to alterations in the characteristic curve.


Disclosed are a folding module, a photovoltaic mounting structure, and mounting method thereof. The folding module includes a panel having front and back sides, two support blocks disposed on the back side of the panel adjacent to the two sides, two support members each hingedly connected with one of the support blocks such that the support members foldable and rotatable about the respective hinges. The photovoltaic mounting structure includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each module having front and back sides, each side attached with a securing block connector and a hook connector, both connectors further attached to a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly of the front side of the structure is rotatable about the securing block connector and the hook connector of the front side, and the bracket assembly on the back side is rotatable about the securing block connector and the hook connector of the back side.

A solar photovoltaic module is a key component for a solar power generation system, and is also the most valuable component in the solar power generation system. The function of the module is to convert solar energy into electrical energy, either to deliver the electrical energy to a battery for storage, or to drive a workload. The quality and cost of the solar photovoltaic module decides the quality and cost of the whole system.
A solar photovoltaic module of prior art is basically comprised of a solar cell, a piece of tempered glass covering on the surface of the solar cell and a aluminum frame surrounding the solar cell. In particular, the aluminum frame is provided basically for supporting the solar photovoltaic module with a support member when mounting the solar photovoltaic module. For example, Chinese patent disclosure (CN201773843U) discloses a solar photovoltaic module frame and a solar photovoltaic module, in which the solar photovoltaic module is surrounded by the module frame as mentioned above.
At present, techniques for mounting crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic modules have been well-developed. Generally, a number of solar photovoltaic modules are mounted on the light-facing surface of the building or the ground by employing a mounting structure such as the mounting frames as mentioned above.
In the prior art, as to photovoltaic module mounting systems which are suitable for flat roofs, many photovoltaic manufacturers and system constructors employ their own structural mounting system, such as Kyocera solar mounting structure, Panelclaw solar mounting solution, Sunlink mounting module, Schletter mounting system, or the likes. Among these mounting systems, some are simple in structure and convenient for mounting but are poor in system mechanical strength and require complicated parts, others use simple parts and have a robust mechanical strength but are difficult to mount on site, thereby being labor costly.
Besides, nearly all the present solar photovoltaic modules equip with a supporting structure which provides support members on the mounting frame (for example, a aluminum frame) or builds support members which is not adjustable on the back of the photovoltaic module.
For example, German Patent Disclosure (DE102010017705A1) discloses a photovoltaic module, disclosure the support structure of which, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, comprises: a stopper disposed at one end of a guide rail to secure one side of the photovoltaic module, and a vertical support member disposed at the other end of the guide rail to hold the other side of the module. In particular, the support structure is a divided structure.
Thus, the present support structure would inevitably require a mounting frame. Alternatively, it needs a support member with non-adjustable height, which would all occupy a large space for shipping and manufacturing. As a alternative, the support structure and the solar photovoltaic module are disassembled for separate shipping and assembly, which brings additional inconveniences for mounting and shipping.
Therefore, there is a need for a solar photovoltaic module and its related mounting system, with simplified structure, convenience in mounting, overall robust mechanical strength, simple parts and low cost.

Folded photovoltaic assembly mounting structure and mounting method therefor


A method for preparing a trench capacitor structure first forms at least one trench in a substrate, and forms a capacitor structure in the bottom portion of the trench, wherein the capacitor structure includes a buried bottom electrode positioned on a lower outer surface of the trench, a first dielectric layer covering an inner surface of the bottom electrode and a top electrode positioned on the surface of the dielectric layer. Subsequently, a collar insulation layer is formed on the surface of the first dielectric layer above the top electrode, and a first conductive block is then formed in the collar insulation layer. A second conductive block with dopants is formed on the first conductive block, and a thermal treating process is performed to diffuse the dopants from the second conductive block into an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate to form a buried conductive region.

(A) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a trench capacitor structure, and more particularly, to a method for preparing a trench capacitor structure capable of preventing current leakage due to the conduction of a parasitic transistor.
(B) Description of the Related Art
A memory unit of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) includes an access transistor and a storage capacitor, wherein a source of the access transistor is connected to a top electrode of the storage capacitor, and a bottom electrode of the storage capacitor is connected to a positive voltage. In particular, as the quantity of charges stored on the capacitor becomes greater, the occurrence of read error by a read amplifier caused by noises can be greatly reduced. Therefore, memory units of current DRAM designs usually adopt a stacked capacitor of three-dimensional structure or a trench capacitor structure to increase the accumulated charges on the capacitor.
The current leakage phenomenon of the memory unit of the DRAM may decrease the charges stored on the capacitor, and the capacitor must be periodically refreshed to avoid data storage error caused by the excessive decrease of the stored charges. However, additional refresh operations may cause more power consumption of the DRAM. Therefore, the current leakage phenomenon greatly influences the electrical performance of the DRAM.

Method for preparing a trench capacitor structure


A method, system, and medium for retrieving information stored within a telecommunications-network component is provided. The method includes presenting component information to a user in response to providing one or more links upon which to derive information. The present invention can optionally ensure integrity of the data provided and automatically present information about the communications links entered as well as other signal-transfer-point information. This information includes one or more processor components that service the link as well as all other links serviced by the processor(s). The query results are presented in an easy-to-understand format on a display device via a user interface.

Telecommunications networks transmit data through switches. A switch receives a signal and then transfers the signal toward its destination. Signals include data signals as well as conventional voice-grade telephone calls. Almost all calls are routed across the globe via switches. Public telecommunications voice networks use Signaling System 7 (SS7) to exchange information for wire line and wireless call setup, routing, and control. SS7 is an out-of-band messaging network that finds a path for every call and supports numerous products with adjunct databases (calling cards, 800 numbers, etc.). By using the out-of-band channel, SS7 networks relieve the load-bearing switches of call setup duties. The SS7 network includes a series of nodes called Signaling Points (SP). The Signal Transfer Point (STP) is one of these signaling points but also includes any point hardware and/or software, where a signal is transferred.
Switches are connected to other switches via communications links (links). Data flows through these links to reach their destinations. The links typically terminate inside an STP. An STP also houses subcomponents responsible for routing data packets such as SS7 packets. When a link fails, calls may possibly get rerouted but can ultimately be blocked. As links fail, traffic is supposed to be rerouted to alternative switches. This rerouting, however, does not always occur. As traffic continues to be routed to an STP that cannot handle it, eventually data cannot pass through the links. Historically, diagnosing the source of faulty links has been a tedious, cumbersome, time-intensive, and expensive process.
Links are associated with processing devices inside the STP. These processing devices can control other processing devices which are associated with still other links. Troubleshooting faulty links absent the present invention—often consumes upwards of forty-five minutes to an hour or more. Meanwhile, the traffic that is supposed to be routed across the downed links, including "911" calls for example, may not be arriving at its intended destination. Emergency calls such as "911" calls may not get through to the proper authorities. Internet traffic can become or remain disrupted. As long as the problem within an STP cannot be remedied, the integrity of data communications is impaired and diminished
To diagnose the problem that is causing traffic to be blocked, an analyst would manually enter a multiplicity of commands to gather link information stored within the STP. The analyst would then attempt to remotely submit the commands from a distant location. But bandwidth to the switch, even today, is limited. Moreover, the switch is often slow to respond as it tries to process the remote commands while under duress from the additional data to process.
As the analyst would enter switch commands to determine information about the STP, [s]he manually writes down the information, which includes data related to the processor devices within the STP. If data can be gathered about the various processors, then a commonality may surface that leads to a source of the communications problems. Identifying this commonality required the tedious and repetitious entering of remote commands to derive information related to link numbers. Link numbers are numbers associated with links or link cards where the links terminate. A typical switch may have 720 or more link numbers.
The analyst would enter commands to display a link route associated with a link number that may be down. These commands are often proprietary and must be memorized or known by the analyst. Next, the analyst would try to determine which processor is associated with corresponding links. After the processor is identified, the analyst would enter additional commands to determine all links associated with that processor. The analyst would manually attempt to decipher a pattern whereby faulty links could be associated with a common processor. Accordingly, if multiple processors were causing problems, then the process would have to be repeated for each processor device.
Even if fault links were seemingly associated with a common processor device, the processor device may not be the cause of the problem. In instances where the processor devices operate in a hierarchy, a top-level processor may be faulty. If a top-level processor is faulty, then a false-negative may be observed. That is, although a lower-level processor may appear to be faulty because no traffic is getting through it, that processor may not be faulty, but its corresponding higher-level processor may be faulty.
The current state of the art could be improved by providing a method that enables link-identification information stored in an STP to be rapidly retrieved. This link information can then be used to more quickly diagnose and correct communications problems.

Method and system for presenting data stored within a network component


This invention relates to peer-to-peer transparent clocks and methods of estimating skew in peer-to-peer transparent clocks. Embodiments of the invention relate to techniques for estimating clock skew between a free-running clock in a transparent clock and a master clock, in particular by using the timing information embedded in timing messages passing through the transparent clock. Further embodiments of the invention set out uses of these estimates to modify the residence times computed by the transparent clock and a synchronization network including such transparent clocks.

IEEE 1588 PTP is a two-way time/frequency transfer protocol wherein a GrandMaster (master) clock generates messages (packets) with precise timestamps that are sent downstream to slave devices. The slave devices also exchange messages with the GrandMaster via a delay measurement mechanism to obtain timestamps in order to derive an accurate estimate of the GrandMaster clock. Devices between the master and slave clocks may be ordinary switches and routers, or specialized equipment with on-path support, such as transparent clocks (TCs), that can be used to mitigate the effects of timing impairments introduced by the network between the master and slave.
TCs were introduced in IEEE 1588 Version 2 to allow a synchronization network to measure the actual delays synchronization packets experience and to communicate these delay measurements to slaves. The slaves can then adjust their clocks while compensating for the actual delay variations. For most accurate residence time measurements, the PTP clocks in each TC should be syntonized (synchronized in frequency) with the GrandMaster. Accurate residence time measurements determine to a large extent how accurate the clock synchronization at the slave will be. However, the clock skews (or frequency differences) between the clocks at the TCs on the path and the GrandMaster can render the residence time measurements inaccurate. To obtain more accurate measurements at the TCs, the clock skews have to be accurately estimated and removed from (or compensated for in) the measurements.
One way to do so is to physically tune the frequency of the TC clocks to be syntonized to the GrandMaster clock. The accurately syntonized TC clocks can then be used for residence time measurements. Alternatively, syntonization may be handled on the TC processor (in software) without physically adjusting the rate of the TC clocks, that is, the TCs use free-running clocks. The computed clock skew (between the free-running TC clock and GrandMaster) may be used by the TC to modify the measured residence times inserted into Sync/Follow_Up messages.
There are currently two main methods used to syntonize the TC clocks. One is using Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) (defined in ITU-T Recommendations G.8261, G.8262, and G.8264) which is a timing transfer method that passes timing over the Physical Layer of Ethernet using SONET/SDH-like timing techniques. The main limitation of this method is that it cannot be applied over networks (even Ethernet) which have already been deployed without such timing transfer capabilities. An implementation will require an all SyncE network on the path linking the GrandMaster and the TC. In such an implementation, the timing signal carried by SyncE is used to frequency lock the TC oscillator is to the GrandMaster
The other method is to generate syntonization signals from timestamps captured from Sync messages (only) sent from the GrandMaster to the slave device. The syntonization signal can be used to physically tune the TC oscillator or modify the measured residence times. The example methods described in the IEEE 1588 Version 2 Standard for generating the syntonization signals are very simplistic (using Sync messages only and simple linear estimation techniques) and generally do not provide accurate syntonization.
Overview of IEEE 1588v2 PTP
The GrandMaster (GM) is the root timing reference in a domain and transmits synchronization information to the clocks residing in its domain. In IEEE 1588v2 PTP messages are categorized into event and general messages. All IEEE 1588 PTP messages have a common header. Event messages are timed messages in that an accurate timestamp is generated at both transmission and receipt of each message. Event messages have to be accurately timestamped since the accuracy in transmission and receipt timestamps directly affects clock distribution accuracy.
A timestamp event is generated at the time of transmission and reception of any event message. General messages are not required to be timestamped. The set of event messages consists of Sync, Delay_Req, Pdelay_Req, and Pdelay_Resp. The set of general messages consists of Announce, Follow_Up, Delay_Resp, Pdelay_Resp_Follow_Up, Management, and Signaling.
IEEE 1588 PTP allows for two different types of timestamping methods, either one-step or two-step. One-step clocks update time information within event messages (Sync and Delay-Req) on-the-fly, while two-step clocks convey the precise timestamps of packets in general messages (Follow_Up and Delay-Resp).
The Sync, Delay_Req, Follow_Up, and Delay_Resp messages are used to generate and communicate the timing information needed to synchronize ordinary and boundary clocks (see description below) using the delay request-response mechanism. A Sync message is transmitted by a GM to its slaves and either contains the exact time of its transmission or is followed by a Follow_Up message containing this time. In a two-step ordinary or boundary clock, the Follow_Up message communicates the value of the departure timestamp for a particular Sync message. A Delay_Req message is a request for the receiving node to return the time at which the Delay_Req message was received, using a Delay_Resp message.
The basic pattern of synchronization message exchanges for the one-step and two-step clocks are illustrated in FIG. 1. The message exchange pattern for the two-step clock can be explained as follows. The GM 1 sends a Sync message to the slave 3 over a packet network 2 and notes the time T1 at which it was sent according to the GM clock 4. The slave 3 receives the Sync message and notes the time of reception T2 according to the slave clock 5. The GM 1 conveys to the slave the timestamp T1 by one of two ways: 1) Embedding the timestamp T1 in the Sync message (one-step clock). This requires some sort of hardware processing (i.e., hardware timestamping) for highest accuracy and precision. 2) Embedding the timestamp T1 in a Follow_Up message (two-step clock). Next, the slave 3 sends a Delay_Req message to the GM 1 and notes the time T3 at which it was sent according to the slave clock 5. The GM 1 receives the Delay_Req message and notes the time of reception T4 according to the GM clock 4. The GM 1 conveys to the slave the timestamp T4 by embedding it in a Delay_Resp message.
At the end of this PTP messages exchange, the slave 3 possesses all four timestamps {T1, T2, T3, T4}. These timestamps may be used to compute the offset of the slave clock 5 with respect to the GM clock 4 and the mean propagation time of messages between the two clocks. The computation of offset and propagation time often assumes that the GM-to-slave and slave-to-GM propagation times are equal i.e. a symmetrical communication path.
Transparent Clocks
A TC acts invisibly to the GM and slave from a synchronization perspective by providing a timestamp correction term to PTP event messages traversing the TC. There are two forms of transparent clocks. The end-to-end (E2E) TC provides a correction that reflects the residence time (or dwell-time) of the packet within the equipment itself. A peer-to-peer (P2P) TC includes in the correction its own internal delay as well as an estimate of the link delay between itself and its upstream device.
TCs are PTP devices that operate as normal switches, but they update the correction field (correctionField) of the PTP packets with a value equal to their residence time, that is, the time the packet was delayed in the switch (E2E TCs), or the residence time plus the peer link delay (P2P TCs). The purpose of the TC function providing on-path support is to remove the effect of PDV by informing downstream devices of precisely what these delays were on a packet-by-packet basis.
An End-to-End (E2E) TC is a multi-port device that is not a master or slave clock but a bridge between the two. E2E TCs only measure the time taken for a PTP event message (Sync and Delay_Req) to transit the bridge and provide this information to the receiving slave clocks in the correction field. The E2E TC does not include the propagation delay of the upstream link connected to the ingress port through which the message arrived. This information is not added to the correction field by the E2E TC.
A P2P TC is also a multi-port device that is not a master or slave clock but a bridge between the two. This clock determines the residence time of a Sync message through the switch. It also determines the delay of the inbound path (link) using the PTP peer delay mechanism. Both values are added up and placed in the correction field of the Sync message or associated Follow_Up message (FIG. 2).
In the end-to-end approach (i.e., networks with E2E TCs), delay measurement messages (Sync, Follow_Up, Delay_Req, and Delay_Resp messages) are exchanged between the master and the slave using the PTP Delay Request-Response measurement mechanism. In the peer-to-peer approach (i.e., networks with P2P TCs) the master still sends Sync and Follow_Up messages to the slave clock just as in the end-to-end approach except no Delay_Req and Delay_Resp messages are exchanged. A P2P TC forwards and modifies Sync and Follow_Up messages only to compensate for residence time and peer uplink delay (FIG. 3). A one-step P2P TC updates for switch delay in Sync messages as they pass through the switch while a two-step TC updates a field in the non time-critical general message (Follow_Up).
The upstream link delay is the estimated packet propagation delay between the upstream neighbor P2P TC and the P2P TC under consideration. The correction field of the message received by the slave contains the sum of all residence times and link delays. In theory this is the total end-to-end delay (from master to slave) of the Sync packet.
P2P TCs use the following event messages for peer delay measurements: Pdelay_Req Pdelay_Resp, and Pdelay_Resp_Follow_Up. These messages are sent in the sequence shown in FIG. 4. In the peer-to-peer approach, each device on the network exchanges peer-delay measurement messages. This allows each device to keep track of the delays between itself and its immediately connected neighbors.
Each device periodically initiates an exchange of peer-delay messages on every connected port. The peer delay mechanism measures the port-to-port propagation time, i.e., the link delay, between two communicating ports supporting the peer delay mechanism. The link delay measurements are made independently by each port implementing the peer delay mechanism. This means that the link delay is known by ports on both ends of a link. This allows path length corrections to be made immediately upon reconfiguration of the network.
With this requirement and given two P2P TCs, TC1 and TC2 (FIG. 4), TC1 (upstream) initiates the peer delay mechanism to TC2 (downstream). Similarly, TC2 initiates an independent peer delay mechanism to TC1. TC2 initiates the same series of messages in the reverse direction so that both clocks know the peer-delay. However, TC2 is the TC (and not TC1) that updates the peer link delay in the Sync (or Follow_Up) message for the peer link under consideration. This is to avoid double link delay updating for a peer link under consideration. At the end of this PTP messages exchange, the downstream P2P TC possesses all four timestamps {Tp1, Tp2, Tp3, Tp4}. These timestamps are then used to compute the upstream link delay.
In a peer-to-peer network, all links are periodically measured, so the delay between the master and slave are readily known when the network path/topology changes. Note that peer-delay messages are exchanged even on ports blocked to prevent loops, such as by the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol.
As the process in FIG. 3 continues hop by hop (where N is the number of hops or links), the Sync or Follow-Up Messages maintain a running total of the residence and propagation times; resulting in a grand total delay value from master to slave:
                              total_residence                    _time                    _plus                    _propagation                    _delay                =                              d            total                    =                                                    ∑                                  i                  =                  1                                                  N                  -                  1                                                                                r                i                                      +                                          ∑                                  i                  =                  1                                N                                                                                p                i                                                                        (        1        )
Upon receipt of the final Sync or Follow-Up Message, the slave device calculates its offset. It is noted here that although the sum of the propagation and residence delays at each TC (p1, r1, p2, r2, . . . ) is included in the Sync message's associated Follow-Up's offset correction field, the final propagation delay from the last TC to the slave device must be included in order to fully capture the end-to-end delay (FIG. 3).
Time transfer using P2P TCs involves using the residence plus total propagation delay (in P2P TCs) at slave to mitigate PDV effects (FIG. 5). The IEEE 1588 does not describe how this should be done but left to vendor/user implementation. The standard does not specify how the clock recovery mechanism at the receiver should be implemented.
In FIG. 6, the transparent clock devices on the communication path to each slave measure the peer link delay and the delay the Sync packet resides in the TC device and increments the correction field in the PTP header. By doing so, the slave clock or boundary clock further down the line can determine how long the Sync packet resided in the TC devices before it. The slave can then use the values in the correction field to reduce the effects PDV on its path.
Advantages of using Syntonized or Skew Compensated Transparent Clocks
Syntonizing or compensating for the skew can help in improving residence time measurement accuracy. As explained above, accurate residence time measurements enable accurate synchronization at the slave. Consider the case where a TC clock is not syntonized or contains a free-running oscillator with frequency accuracy (or skew) αfree no worse than ±100 ppm. If residence time is measured using this oscillator, there will be an error on the order of the residence time multiplied by the actual frequency offset αfree.
Let rideal be the ideal residence time (when the TC is accurately syntonized to the GM) and ract be the actual measured residence time when the TC is not accurately syntonized or the TC is using a free-running oscillator and has skew of αfree. With this we have,ract=(1+αfree)rideal=rideal+αfreerideal=rideal+rerror,  (2)
In the above equation, rerror is the (positive or negative) error in the residence time measurement when the skew is non-zero and is αfree.
Optimum synchronization performance is obtained when all TCs on a synchronization path are frequency locked (syntonized) to the GM clock. If a TC is not frequency synchronized to the GM, a TC with a ±100 ppm accuracy will contribute a measurement error of ±(0.0001×10 ms)=±1 μs (or ±1000 ns) to the residence time if the ideal residence time is 10 ms. However, a positive effect is that oscillator do not typically operate at the extreme ends of their accuracy limits.
To reduce this error, IEEE 1588 Version 2 allows the TC to be syntonized, i.e., synchronized in frequency, to the GM. Each TC will use its own internal mechanisms to measure frequency offset relative to the GM and to synthesize a frequency signal that is syntonized with the GM. This synthesis may be done via hardware, firmware, or software.
Assume a network with nodes having standard Ethernet oscillators, with nominal frequencies of 25 MHz for 100 Mbit/s Ethernet and 125 MHz for 1 Gbit/s Ethernet. This means that the phase measurement granularity in the TC and ordinary clock can be as much as 40 ns for 100 Mbits/s Ethernet. Additional phase error will result from the variable component of latency in the Ethernet physical layer (PHY) (the fixed component can be specified by the manufacturer in the design).
Considering the case of a syntonized TC local oscillator. If the frequency offset between the GM and TC oscillator is measured and a syntonized frequency is created, the use of this frequency for the TC delay computation will greatly reduce the magnitude of the TC measurement errors. The phase step magnitude will now be on the order of the syntonized frequency measurement accuracy multiplied by the synch interval.
For example, if the phase measurement granularity is 40 ns (assuming a 25 MHz oscillator for 100 Mbit/s Ethernet) and the TC oscillator frequency offset is measured/syntonized over 100 ms (to be at this phase granularity or, in other words, frequency), then the measured frequency offset or skew is 40×10−9 s/0.1 s=400×10−9=0.4 ppm (parts-per-million). The TC measurement error or offset now is (400×10−9)(0.01 s)=4 ns, i.e., the TC measurement error is reduced from the 1000 ns computed when an unsyntonized clock or free-running local oscillator is used for the measurement by a factor of 250.
In practice, the reduction will not be this large because other effects are present, e.g., oscillator phase noise and drifts due to temperature effects, phase measurement error due to the variable portion of the PHY latency, and frequency measurement granularity.
For most accurate residence time measurements, the clocks in each TC should be syntonized with the GM. Syntonization only requires correction to the TC oscillator frequency. The TC host processor can use the ingress timestamps from Sync messages to determine a frequency (rate) correction required for the TC clock. Alternatively, syntonization may be handled on the TC host processor without adjusting the frequency of the TC clocks. The frequency correction may be used to modify the computed residence times inserted into Sync/Follow_Up messages.
An object of the present invention is to provide techniques that allow a P2P TC with free-running local clock to use timing message timestamps intercepted by the TC for accurate clock skew estimation.
A further object of the present invention is to improve the accuracy of the residence times computed by a P2P TC.

Peer-to-peer transparent clocks and methods of estimating skew in peer-to-peer transparent clocks

Khalifa University of Science and Technology


A method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with the oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of the variety of sources; (d) calculating a mean normalized travel time (NTT) value for each oriented road section of said oriented road section network using the prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each source, for forming a partial current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with each source; (e) fusing the partial current traffic situation picture associated with each source, for generating a single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with entire oriented road section network; (f) predicting a future complete vehicular traffic situation picture associated with the entire oriented road section network; and (g) using the current vehicular traffic situation picture and the future vehicular traffic situation picture for providing a variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to end users.

The present invention relates to the field of vehicular traffic data and information and, more particularly, to a method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, and using the modeled and processed vehicular traffic data and information for providing a variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to end users.
Despite continuing investing in massive amounts of financial and human resources, current road network capacities insufficiently meet the needs dictated by current levels and growth rates of traffic volume. This dilemma relates to current road network capacities, in general, and current road network capacities in urban, suburban, and rural, environments, in particular. Road congestion, or, equivalently, inconveniently high levels or volumes of vehicular road traffic, is a persistent major factor resulting from this dilemma, and needs to be given proper attention and taken into account for efficiently scheduling trips, selecting travel routes, and for attempting to efficiently allocate and exploit time, by individual drivers, as well as by vehicular traffic logistics personnel such as company vehicular fleet managers, responsible for performing such activities. Road congestion and associated traffic data and information also need to be well understood and used by a wide variety of public and private occupations and personnel, such as designers, planners, engineers, coordinators, traffic law makers and enforcers, directly and/or indirectly involved in designing, planning, controlling, engineering, coordinating, and implementing, a wide variety of activities, events, and/or construction projects, which depend upon accurate descriptions of current and future vehicular traffic situations and scenarios. This situation is a main driving force for the on-going development and application of various methods, systems, and devices, for acquiring, analyzing, processing, and applying, vehicular traffic data and information.
There are various prior art techniques for acquiring, analyzing, processing, and applying, vehicular traffic data and information. A few examples of recent prior art in this field are U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,933, issued to Lang, entitled "Instantaneous Traffic Monitoring System", U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,012, issued to Fleck et al., entitled "Method And System For Determining Dynamic Traffic Information", U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,364, issued to Kemer et al., entitled "Method And Device For Providing Traffic Information", and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,227, issued to Peterson, entitled "Method And Apparatus For Providing Shortest Elapsed Time Route And Tracking Information To Users".
Prior art techniques typically include calculating velocities of vehicles, for example, by acquiring series of exact locations of the vehicles located along roads in known time intervals, by measuring vehicular traffic flux along roads, especially, along highways, and/or, by a variety of other means known in the field. There are prior art techniques which are either based on, or, include, the use of networks of fixed or static traffic sensors or electronic devices, such as video cameras, induction boxes, tag readers, traffic detectors, and so on, which are installed and fixed along known locations of main traffic arteries and/or traffic volume. Fixed or static traffic sensors or electronic devices, positioned at known locations, relay crossing times of vehicles to a computerized central traffic data and information handling (gathering, collecting, acquiring, analyzing, processing, communicating, distributing) system that consequently calculates velocities of the vehicles between two such sensors.
Significant limitations of developing and implementing comprehensive, highly accurate and precise, techniques for acquiring, analyzing, processing, and applying, vehicular traffic data and information, primarily based upon a system or network of fixed or static traffic sensors or electronic devices, are the relatively large amounts and expense of the necessary infrastructure and maintenance, especially if such resources are to account for and include vehicular traffic data and information associated with a plethora of minor roads characterized by low volumes of vehicular traffic.
More recent prior art techniques are either based on, or, at least include, the use of mobile sensors or electronic devices physically located in or attached to vehicles, each of which is uniquely or specifically designated or assigned to a particular vehicle, whereby the mobile sensors or electronic devices automatically transmit vehicle locations to the computerized central traffic data and information handling system according to pre-determined time intervals, and, whereby, vehicle velocities are relatively simple to calculate for vehicle locations acquired with sufficient accuracy.
For obtaining dynamic vehicle location and velocity data and information, having varying degrees of accuracy and precision, from uniquely or specifically dedicated in-vehicle mobile sensors or electronic devices, such prior art techniques make use of well known global positioning system (GPS) and/or other types of mobile wireless communication or electronic vehicular tracking technologies, such as cellular telephone or radio types of mobile wireless communications networks or systems, involving the use of corresponding mobile wireless devices such as cellular telephones, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), transceivers, and other types of telemetric devices, which are uniquely or specifically designated or assigned to a particular vehicle. Establishing and maintaining various communications of the mobile sensors or electronic devices, the computerized central traffic data and information handling system, and, vehicular end-users, are also performed by mobile wireless communication networks or systems, such as cellular telephone mobile wireless communications networks or systems, for example, involving the Internet.
It is noted, however, that due to the requirement of uniquely or specifically designating or assigning each mobile sensor or electronic device to a particular vehicle during the process of gathering, collecting, or acquiring, the vehicular traffic data and information, the potential number of mobile sensors or electronic devices providing dynamic vehicle location and velocity data and information to the computerized central traffic data and information handling system is limited, in proportion to the number of vehicles featuring the particular mobile wireless communication or electronic vehicular tracking technology. For example, currently, there is a significantly larger potential number of vehicles associated with cellular telephone types of a mobile wireless communication network or system compared to the potential number of vehicles associated with GPS types of a mobile wireless communication network or system.
Various specific techniques for manually and electronically gathering, collecting, or acquiring, vehicular traffic data and information are relatively well developed and taught about in the prior art. Moreover, various specific techniques for electronically communicating, sending, or distributing, analyzed and processed vehicular traffic data and information in vehicular traffic related service applications to end users are also relatively well developed and taught about in the prior art. However, there remains a strong on-going need for developing better, more comprehensive, highly accurate and precise, yet, practicable and implementable techniques for analyzing, modeling, and processing, the acquired, collected, or gathered, vehicular traffic data and information. This last aspect is especially true with regard to using vehicular traffic data and information for comprehensively, yet, accurately and practicably, describing current and predicting future vehicular traffic situations and scenarios, from which vehicular traffic data and information are used for providing a variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to end users.
In the prior art, a critically important aspect requiring new and improved understanding and enabling description for developing better, more comprehensive, highly accurate and precise, yet, practicable and implementable techniques for analyzing, modeling, and processing, the acquired, collected, or gathered, vehicular traffic data and information, relates to the use of a geographical information system (GIS), or, other similarly organized and detailed spatial representation of a network of roads, for a particular local or wide area region, within which the vehicular traffic data and information are acquired, collected, or gathered. In particular, there is a need for properly and efficiently 'spatially' modeling a road network, and, properly and efficiently 'spatially' modeling, interrelating, and correlating, the vehicular traffic data and information which are acquired, collected, or gathered, among a plurality of sub-regions, sub-areas, or, other designated sub-divisions, within the particular local or wide area region of the spatially modeled road network. Furthermore, there is a particular need for incorporating the factor or dimension of time, for properly and efficiently 'spatially and temporally' defining, interrelating, and correlating, the vehicular traffic data and information which are acquired, collected, or gathered, among the plurality of sub-regions, sub-areas, or, other designated sub-divisions, within the particular local or wide area region of the spatially modeled road network.
In the prior art, another critically important aspect requiring new and improved understanding and enabling description relates to the modeling and processing of vehicular traffic data and information which are acquired, collected, or gathered, using techniques based on cellular telephone types of mobile wireless communications networks or systems, which to date, feature relatively low accuracy and precision of vehicle locations compared to the less widely used, but significantly more highly accurate and precise, GPS types of mobile wireless communication or electronic vehicular tracking technologies.
In prior art, another critically important aspect requiring new and improved understanding and enabling description relates to the modeling and processing of vehicular traffic data and information which are acquired, collected, or gathered, from an 'arbitrary', non-pre-determined or non-designated, population or group of vehicles each including a uniquely or specifically designated or assigned mobile sensor or electronic device, therefore, resulting in a potentially large number of mobile sensors or electronic devices providing dynamic vehicle location and velocity data and information to the computerized central traffic data and information handling system.
In the prior art, another critically important aspect requiring new and improved understanding and enabling description relates to the proper and efficient combining or fusing of a variety of vehicular traffic data and information which are acquired, collected, or gathered, using a combination of a various techniques based on networks of fixed or static traffic sensors or electronic devices, GPS and/or cellular telephone types of mobile wireless communications networks or systems, and, various other manual and electronic types of vehicular traffic data and information such as historical and/or event related vehicular traffic data and information.
In the prior art, another important aspect requiring understanding and enabling description relates to techniques for protecting the privacy of individuals associated with or hosting the sources, that is, the mobile sensors or electronic devices, of vehicular traffic data and information which are acquired, collected, or gathered, using techniques based on GPS and/or cellular telephone types of mobile wireless communications networks or systems. The inventors are unaware of any prior art teaching for performing this in the field of vehicular traffic data and information.
There is thus a strong need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have a method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, and using the modeled and processed vehicular traffic data and information for providing a variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to end users. Moreover, there is a particular need for such a generally applicable method and system with regard to using vehicular traffic data and information for comprehensively, yet, accurately and practicably, describing current and predicting future vehicular traffic situations and scenarios, from which vehicular traffic data and information are used for providing the variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to the end users.

Method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information and applying thereof


A cleaning blade includes a supporting member, and a tabular elastic member. One end portion of the elastic member is fixed to the supporting member, and the other end portion is a free end portion whose tip edge is to be contacted with a member to be cleaned while rubbing the surface to remove a residual material therefrom. The tip portion of the free end portion of the elastic member ranging in length from 0 to 500 μm from the tip surface thereof includes at least a cured material of a curable compound and an elastic material of the elastic member. The elastic member satisfies the relationship, 0.05(%)≦[(tM−tA)/tA]×100≦2%, wherein tM represents the maximum thickness of the tip portion of the elastic member, and tA represents the average thickness of the rear portion of the free end portion of the elastic member.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a cleaning blade, and to an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge, which use the cleaning blade.
2. Description of the Related Art
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, residual toner remaining on the surface of an image bearer such as photoconductors even after a toner image thereon is transferred onto a recording medium or an intermediate transfer medium is removed therefrom using a cleaner.
A cleaning blade is typically used as a cleaning member of such a cleaner because of having advantages such that the cleaner has simple structure and good cleanability. Such a cleaning blade typically includes an elastic member made of a gum elastic such as polyurethane rubbers, and a supporting member to support the elastic member. The cleaning blade typically has a configuration such that one end of the elastic member is supported by the supporting member, and an edge (i.e., tip edge) of the other end (i.e., free end) of the elastic member is contacted with a surface of an image bearer to block and scrape off residual toner on the surface of the image bearer, thereby removing the residual toner from the surface of the image bearer.
In attempting to fulfill a recent need for high quality images, there are image forming apparatuses using toner (hereinafter sometimes referred to as polymerization toner), which is substantially spherical and has a relatively small particle diameter and which is prepared by a method such as polymerization methods. Since polymerization toner has such an advantage as to have a higher transfer efficiency than pulverization toner, which has been conventionally used for image forming apparatuses, the polymerization toner can fulfill the need. However, polymerization toner has such a drawback as not to be easily removed from an image bearer by such a cleaning blade as mentioned above, resulting in occurrence of defective cleaning (hereinafter referred to as a toner passing problem). This is because such polymerization toner has a high circularity and a small particle diameter, and therefore easily passes through a small gap between the tip of a cleaning blade and the surface of an image bearer.
In attempting to prevent occurrence of such a toner passing problem, a technique such that the pressure to a cleaning blade contacted with the surface of an image bearer is increased (i.e., contact pressure of a cleaning blade is increased) is often used to enhance the cleanability of the cleaning blade. However, it is well known that when the contact pressure of such a cleaning blade is increased, the following problem is caused.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, when the contact pressure of a cleaning blade 62 is increased, the friction between the cleaning blade 62 and a member 123 to be cleaned (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an image bearer) is increased, and a tip edge 62c of a tip surface 62a of the cleaning blade 62 is pulled by the moving surface of the image bearer 123 in the moving direction of the image bearer, thereby everting the tip edge portion of the tip surface 62a of the cleaning blade 62. In this regard, since the thus everted tip edge portion of the cleaning blade 62 is returned to the original state due to the restoring force of the cleaning blade. In this case, an abnormal sound is generated. Since the eversion and restoration of the tip edge portion are repeated, the tip edge portion tends to vibrate, resulting in generation of fluttering sounds (i.e., occurrence of a fluttering sound problem).
When the cleaning operation is continued while the tip edge portion of the cleaning blade 62 is everted, the a portion X of the tip surface 62a of the cleaning blade 62, which portion is few micrometers away from the tip edge 62c, is abraded as illustrated in FIG. 2B. When the cleaning blade 62 is further used for the cleaning operation, the tip edge portion of the tip surface 62a of the cleaning blade 62 is further abraded, resulting in lack of the tip edge 62c of the cleaning blade 62 as illustrated in FIG. 2C. The cleaning blade 62 having no tip edge hardly removes residual toner from the surface of the image bearer 123, thereby causing a cleaning problem in that an abnormal image such that background of an image is soiled with residual toner is formed. Therefore, a need exists for a cleaning blade which can maintain good cleanability without being everted even when the contact pressure of the cleaning blade is increased.
FIGS. 2A-2C will be described later in detail.
In addition, in attempting to solve the problem in that the portion (i.e., tip edge portion, hereinafter sometimes referred to as a abutment part) of a cleaning blade contacted with an image bearer is everted, it is attempted to increase the hardness of the abutment part so that the abutment part is hardly deformed.
For example, a cleaning blade made of a polyurethane elastomer is proposed in which the abutment part thereof is coated with a resin having a pencil hardness of from B to 6H to enhance the angular accuracy of the edge while decreasing the friction coefficient of the cleaning blade.
In addition, a cleaning blade is proposed which includes a urethane rubber blade and a silicon-including layer formed on the abutment part of the rubber blade, wherein the surface of the silicon-including layer is cured. It is described therein that a good combination of low frictional property and abrasion resistance can be imparted to the blade.
Further, a cleaning blade is proposed which includes an elastic blade and an outermost layer formed on the tip edge portion of the elastic blade, wherein the tip edge portion has been subjected to a low friction coefficient treatment, and wherein the outermost layer is harder than the elastic blade. It is described therein that the blade can maintain good cleanability with hardly causing the flattering sound problem.

Cleaning blade, and image forming apparatus and process cartridge using the cleaning blade


A transaction recording system for use in recording a transaction occurring at a point-of-sale. The system includes a video capture device having a field of vision. The video capture device captures, produces and transmits video data signals representative of the field of vision of the device, and the video capture device is positioned within an enclosure at a desired position at the point-of-sale. The system includes a point-of-sale processing system located at or near the point-of-sale for receiving, processing, storing and/or transmitting video data signals. The field of vision of the video capture device views at least a portion of the point-of-sale during at least a portion of the transaction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to integrated data management systems and recording systems positioned at a point-of-sale ("POS") and, in particular, to a POS transaction recording system including a retrofit assembly for positioning a camera security system on or near a transaction location marker, such as a lane marker in a supermarket, or other such standard fixture positioned at the POS.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a need in the art for a more dependable method of recording all possible transactions and interactions between parties. Presently, in the art, most cameras are mounted in ceilings, and the video is recorded in a separate location away from the POS system. The POS system then records the transaction information from the register to a separate system. Finally, the two systems are then merged together in yet another process called video or text overlay.
Such systems are known in the art, but have several drawbacks that result from these current processes. First, due to positioning of the camera almost directly above the POS, there are often obstacles obstructing the intended line of sight. Further, this steep angle does not provide the optimal view of the subjects. As a result, multiple cameras are required to ensure that all aspects of the transaction have been recorded. In the prior art, there are some systems that place their cameras more effectively, but the cameras are in plain sight, which in turn creates two problems: 1) the customers often feel very uncomfortable; and 2) if the customer/cashier knows where the camera is located, they can position themselves in a way that will prevent the camera from viewing its intended line of sight.
Another drawback and limitation of the prior art is the integration of the transaction information and the video away from the POS. This remote integration process requires the user to run a large number of cables, often very long distances, in order to reach the Digital Video Recorder (DVR). Such cabling can be very expensive and it tends to lose picture quality at long distances. The other problem with having a remotely-positioned DVR is that some of the people being monitored have access to areas where the DVR is stored and POS information is reviewed (e.g. cash office and computer room). These rooms are left unsupervised far more often than a cash register.
Yet another drawback in limitation of the prior art is in the field of gambling or other games of chance, where the customers andlor dealers are often monitored for cheating or other irregular behavior. Accordingly, the POS would be the gambling table, slot machine, etc. in a casino or the like. Presently, an overhead camera is positioned on the ceiling of the establishment and often referred to as the "eye in the sky". While this camera is effective in monitoring a large majority of the tables under playing conditions, it has limited angles of view and other functionality due to its central and immobile location with respect to any specific area of the casino.

Point-of-sale transaction recording system