An arrangement and a method of increasing the quantity of input and output connectors, which are available for the attachment to connection cables of electronic equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to an arrangement, such as a connector drawer, which is adapted to be installed in a selectively retractable and extendable mode in a laptop computer and which provides for a versatile structure facilitating a elective increase in the quantity of input and output connectors as may be necessitated by specific utilization of the electronic equipment or laptop computers, particularly in conjunction with the connection therewith of auxiliary operating devices or components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arrangement and to a method of increasing the quantity of input and output connectors, which are available for the attachment to connection cables of electronic equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to an arrangement, such as a connector drawer, which is adapted to be installed in a selectively retractable and extendable mode in a laptop computer and which provides for a versatile structure facilitating an elective increase in the quantity of input and output connectors as may be necessitated by specific utilization of the electronic equipment or laptop computers, particularly in conjunction with the connection therewith of auxiliary operating devices or components.
The employment of diverse kinds of electronic equipment, particularly such as, but not limited to, laptop computers, has dramatically and even exponentially increased in recent times in both the business and private sectors, whereby the amount of components and operative devices which are to be connected to the electronic equipment has significantly increased, so as to place ever increasing demands on being able to increase the power of the main components in the laptop computers, which is required by the interfacing of optional external drive units and electronic components with the laptop computer. In particular, the power of the main components of the laptop computers, such as the central processing unit CPU and graphics chip is constantly being increased in order to be able to accommodate operative interconnections with such optional drive units and components which are located externally of the laptop computers. These external units or components may comprise CDs or DVD-ROM drives, digital audio tape drives and other memory units, USB, Firewire, videos, printers, audio and so forth, which are intended to be operatively connected to the CPU and the graphics chip in the laptop computer. These connections all result in an increase in heat which is generated by the internal components of the laptop computer, and require the heat to be dissipated to the environment from the confines of the laptop computer. This, in effect, necessitates that the peripheral edge regions of the housing and/or cover structure of the laptop computer must be provided with openings or apertures of ever increasing size to permit the inward and outward flow therethrough of the heated air which has been generated by the internal power components, thereby reducing the space which is available along the peripheral edges of the laptop computer housing or cover for the locating of connectors to the internal connection cables which are located in the laptop computer, and which are needed for the connecting of optional or auxiliary devices, which are attached to the laptop computer. Consequently, this imposes physical limitations in the availability of space for positioning of the connectors around the peripheral edges of the laptop computer, whereby such connections must be compatible with the various optional external input and output devices. The resultant dirth in the availability of space for such connections necessitates that a solution must be found for the problem of being able to provide for additional input and/or output connectors along the periphery or edges of the laptop computer housing structure, which will satisfy the need for the attachment of diverse types of external devices to the laptop computer or electronic equipment.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Miksch, U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,754 B2 discloses a method and apparatus for managing cabling in an optional drive filler, and in particular relates to a drawer structure which enables accessing cable within the chassis of an electronic device without the danger of an installer being exposed to an electric shock or damaging electrical connections. More specifically, this patent relates to a slidable drawer with an upper biasing arm and a pair of resilient arms, which are adapted to cooperatively engage cable structure located inside the drawer or the chassis of an electronic device, such as a computer housing structure.
Teagno, U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,115 relates to a fuse unit, wherein a drawer having a fuse receiving structure is adapted to enable the selective interconnection of a slidable fuse drawer housing fuses which are to be selectively electrically connected to a circuit board arrangement mounting a plurality of parallel stacked circuit boards.

International Business Machines Corporation


A communication apparatus includes: a transmission unit including a narrow interval data transmission unit which transmits a predetermined plurality of sets of data at an interval narrower than a predetermined interval, upon receipt of a narrow interval data transmission instruction; and a reception unit including: a transmission data reception unit which receives data of an application of a communication partner, and issuing a notification each time the data is received; a data transmission interval reception unit which receives a time interval of data transmission from the communication partner; a data non-arrival detection unit which considers data not to be arrived, in the case where the notification has not been issued from the transmission data reception unit for a predetermined time period longer than the time interval received by the data transmission interval reception unit; and a narrow interval data transmission instruction unit which transmits a narrow interval data transmission instruction to the communication partner, when the data non-arrival detection unit considers data not to be arrived.

The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is widely used as a standard protocol for data communication via a network. TCP has a function of passing a sequence of data passed from a higher layer, to a lower layer per unit of transmission called "segment". TCP also has a function of rearranging, in transmission order, a sequence of data passed from the lower layer, and passing the data to the higher layer.
In TCP, fast retransmission control using duplicate acknowledgements is available. A duplicate acknowledgement is an acknowledgement for notifying that a segment has not arrived at a receiver terminal due to, for example, packet loss or discarding as a result of error detection in the lower layer. Immediately upon receiving a segment transmitted after the segment that has not arrived, the receiver terminal transmits a duplicate acknowledgement to the transmitter. In the case where the transmitter communication terminal, which executes fast retransmission control, receives a plurality of duplicate acknowledgements, the transmitter communication terminal performs retransmission control for the segment notified as not having arrived at the receiver terminal. Usually, the transmitter terminal performs retransmission control in the case of receiving three duplicate acknowledgements.
Patent Literature (PTL) 1 describes the following technique for reducing a delay time due to retransmission: a transmitter terminal transmits forcible retransmission data beforehand on the assumption that transmission data might not arrive at a receiver terminal or might incorrectly arrive at the receiver terminal.

Communication apparatus and communication method


Aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a method of electronic verification of motion data. This includes collecting a first set of motion data that corresponds to a first set of motion characteristics generated from physically moving a hardware element of a computer ending upon inserting the hardware element of the computer into a computer chassis. This can further include determining an approved set of motion data and comparing the first set of motion data to the approved set of motion data. This can further include determining a difference between the first set of motion data and the approved set of motion data. This can further include determining that the difference does not satisfy a threshold. This can further include executing a reaction sequence in the computer, in response to determining that the difference does not satisfy the threshold.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to information security, more particular aspects relate to implementing an electronic verification of motion data with a series of physical motions of one or more hardware elements.
In applications where sensitive algorithms, data, or other program elements are stored, developed, and housed within non-volatile memory elements, there can be a concern that these sensitive elements could be accessed and thus have their security compromised. In order to improve data security, mechanisms can be used to detect intrusion attempts, prohibit unauthorized power-on of hardware, or to otherwise make it difficult to access data without authorization.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Verifying motion data for accessing hardware elements


A conjugated fiber having excellent flame retardancy and color fastness and an interior fabric using the same are provided. According to the present invention, a sheath-core type conjugated fiber comprises a core component of polyphenylene sulfide resin and a sheath component of polyester-based resin. A sea-island type conjugated fiber comprises an island component of polyphenylene sulfide resin and a sea component of polyester-based resin.

The markets for flame retardancy fibers have been huge and begun to pay attention to interior material for flame retardancy.
Synthetic fibers such as those formed of nylon, polyester, polypropylene and the like, because of being excellent in physical and chemical properties, find now wide applications in the form of clothing, curtain, carpet and other materials. However, these fibers are combustible; so they are required to have flame retardancy when applied to automotive trims, housing, etc.
Due to strong regulations in the field of fire service and environment, flame retardancy needs continuously become more demanding. In Japan, using flame retardancy fibers is legislated in infra-structures. In order to obtain approval, bed matrix, in particularly baby products, should be made of flame retardancy materials. Various products without eco-label could not enter into market throughout strict regulations of Europe.
In viewpoints of interior fiber materials for transportations (i.e., automotives, trains, ships, air transportations), flame retardant PET yarns (yarn contains flame retardancy agent in itself) or PET yarns performed by post flame retardancy finish have been employed in automotives. However, these do not meet required flame retardancy property and has a disadvantage of non friendly-environment. In trains, ships, air transportations, wool or acrylic fibers with excellent flame retardancy property have been adopted, and aramid fiber of high cost also adopted partly.
Whereas the interior materials for automotives only needs flammability (carbonization), those for trains, ships, and air transportations more require flammability (carbonization distance, glow time or LOI) as well as smoke density, toxic index. Therefore, it is very difficult for synthetic fibers such as PET, nylon and so forth to satisfy flame retardancy property, so that wool, acrylic fibers, or specialty fibers have been used
Like this, the requirement of interior materials suitable for transportations and additional functions has been increased. Some issues to be considered in functions of interior materials are security for fire, that is, flame retardancy property.
Imparting flame retardancy to fibers is generally achieved by adding flame retardants to the starting polymers or post-treating fibers with flame retardants.
One difficulty in securing stable flame retardancy property comes from the limitation of the amount of flame additives and restriction of halogen flame retardancy agent. Flame retardancy process (adding flame retardants during spinning step or post-treating finish with flame retardants) induces the endurance and emotional quality (design).
Particularly, since most of automotive interior materials are bonded with polyurethane foam, it is necessary that high flame retardancy materials such as polyphenylene sulfide (LOI is 34) with excellent flame retardancy is used so as to reinforce and supplement composite materials.
Recently, flame retardancy needs continuously become more demanding in the field of interior materials for house service or construction. For these use, polyester fibers have been widely used in that they are easily controlled and have price competitiveness. In spite of these advantages, they do not satisfy high flame retardancy property, for example, over 30 LOI.
In order to reduce damages resulted from fire, there is a necessity of flame retardancy fibers, and fibers capable of imparting thermal stability, chemical resistivity, and dimensional stability to interior materials, flame retardancy materials, and sound absorbing materials, which become high-volume market.
Typical example of the above fiber is polyphenylene sulfide. Since the polyphenylene sulfide fiber has inherently more stable with respect to heat. Thus, it offers many advantages of excellent flame retardancy property, stability with respect to smoke density, and controlling toxic gas. In addition, it has continuous thermal stability, chemical resistivity, low absorption, dimensional stability, and chemical resistance and so forth. Unlike this, PET by post flame retardancy finish or fibers added with flame retardancy agent has a limitation of flame retardancy property, poor smoke density, and is not capable of controlling toxic gas.
Polyphenylene sulfide fibers have been known that they can be dyed with disperse dye. However, they tends to be limited to the application of back-filter, electronic components, and automotive components without requiring dyeing.
For replacing conventional interior materials and engineering fabrics by improving dyeing and color fastness of polyphenylene sulfide, this encourages the development of polyphenylene sulfide. In other words, the thermal stability of polyphenylene sulfide (LOI is 34) is already verified, but securing verification of the smoke density and toxic gas and control technique is needed in order to combine interior materials for air transportation and interior materials.
Meanwhile, the most important property next to flame retardancy property is vision characteristic to be used in interior materials. For instance, because construction materials such as curtains and interior materials for movable means such as automotives are exposed to light under severe environment (sunlight or UV) for a long time, color fastness is important factor in dyed products.
Polyphenylene sulfide fibers have excellent flame retardancy, thermal stability, and chemical resistance but a weak to sunlight. Also there is a problem that its color is changed into brown when exposed to sunlight at a high temperature for a long time.
Accordingly, it has been proposed that fibers have flame retardancy property, thermal stability as well as excellent dyeing and color fastness and interior fabric using the same.

Conjugated fiber having excellent flame retardancy and color fastness and interior fabric using the same


A system and method for remote monitoring and command and control of one or many offshore aquafarms is provided. Operators are able to securely access web applications and services hosted in the cloud through which husbandry functions such as feeding fish, cleaning the cage and removing mortalities can be automatically scheduled and executed. Offshore aquafarms relay information, such as environmental sensor data and video feeds back to the cloud to be viewed by the operators.

Managing and operating conventional open ocean aquaculture systems is fraught with very difficult and dangerous tasks. Day to day husbandry functions, such as feeding the fish, cleaning the cage or monitoring the environment, require teams to make daily trips to offshore pens containing the fish. When fairly close to shore (e.g., <5 nm) operators may spend upwards of two hours of idle time a day traveling back and forth to the offshore aquafarm. As commercial aquafarms grow the distance from shore and the size of the cages will increase dramatically increasing inefficiencies in this conventional model and reducing the profitability of the farm.

Cloud-based autonomous aquaculture system


A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant named ‘Bonmadcher’, characterized by its single type dark pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, and upright-mounded growth habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant botanically known as Argyranthemum×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Bonmadcher'.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia during July 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Argyranthemum cultivars that are freely flowering with unique flower coloration and a freely branching, compact, and upright growth habit.
The new Argyranthemum cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Argyranthemum×hybrida breeding selection designated 03-26, not patented, characterized by its semi-double type medium pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulk pollen mix of 32 proprietary Argyranthemum×hybrida breeding selections designated 03-21 through to 03-49 and 03-57, 03-133, and 03-148, not patented, characterized by their single to semi-double type red and pink-colored flowers, various shades of green-colored foliage, and various growth habits. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during July 2004 in a controlled environment at Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2004 at Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.


The present disclosure provides systems and methods that use and/or generate image files according to a novel microvideo image format. For example, a microvideo can be a file that contains both a still image and a brief video. The microvideo can include multiple tracks, such as, for example, a separate video track, audio track, and/or one or more metadata tracks. As one example track, the microvideo can include a motion data track that stores motion data that can be used (e.g., at file runtime) to stabilize the video frames. A microvideo generation system included in an image capture device can determine a trimming of the video on-the-fly as the image capture device captures the microvideo.

An image capture device is a device that can capture imagery (e.g., in the form of image frames). Image capture devices include cameras, recorders, sensors, and/or other devices. In some instances, image capture devices can have a primary purpose other than capturing imagery. For example, image capture devices can include devices that are "camera-enabled" or have an image capture system embedded within the device such as, for example, certain smartphones, laptops, smart appliances, smart speakers, home manager devices, security systems, and the like. In some instances, image capture devices can be mobile image capture devices that are capable of being moved and/or image capture devices that are capable of being worn. Furthermore, computing systems that do not explicitly capture imagery themselves can still be used to view, edit, or display imagery captured by an image capture device.
Certain existing image capture devices can include a feature that enables the device to capture a short moving image (i.e., "movie") when a user operates the device to capture imagery. In particular, the short movie can include imagery captured a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 1.5 seconds) both before and after a user operates the device to capture imagery (e.g., by selecting a physical or virtual button to instruct the device to capture imagery). However, this short movie often includes extraneous imagery that reduces the quality of the moving image. For example, the movie might include imagery that corresponds to out-of-pocket motion (e.g., captured while the user removes the device from her pocket), sudden brightness change, and/or undesired camera zooming and rotation.
Another challenge faced by the design and use of certain forms of image capture devices (e.g., mobile image capture devices and/or image capture devices that are able to be worn) is the resource-limited environment in which they operate. In particular, the design and use of image capture devices is commonly subject to the following constraints: a limited amount of memory to be used for image storage over a significant period of time; a limited amount of processing power or capability to continuously process imagery; a limited amount of energy available to operate over an extended period of time; and/or a limited amount of thermal power that can be dissipated (i.e., a device temperature that should not be exceeded so as to prevent overheating of the device or discomfort for the user, who may in some instances wear the mobile image capture device).

Microvideo system, format, and method of generation


A desitometer gantry may translate in two directions for scanning and may swivel about a vertical axis to allow the radiation angle and the detector-to-patient distance to be altered during a scan so as to provide constant magnification of the image and to align the patient's spine with the radiation beam for more accurate edge measurements. A method of reducing the effects of osteophytes on density measurements applies an iterative threshold based on the density difference between hard and soft tissue.

Scanning radiographic equipment differs from conventional radiography in that it employs a narrowly collimated beam of radiation, typically x-rays formed into a fan or pencil beam, rather than a broad area cone beam. The small beam size used in scanning radiographic equipment allows replacement of an image forming sheet of radiographic film, used with conventional radiographic equipment, with a small area electronic detector element or array of such elements.
The detector elements receiving the transmitted radiation produce electrical signals which may be converted to digital values by an analog to digital converter for the later development of an image or for other processing by computer equipment. The ability to quantify the measurement of the transmitted radiation, implicit in the digitization by the analog to digital converter, allows not only the formation of a radiographic "attenuation" image but also the mathematical analysis of the composition of the attenuating material by dual energy techniques. See generally, "Generalized Image Combinations in Dual KVP Digital Radiography", by Lehmann et al Med Phys 8(5) Sep./Oct. 1981.
Such dual energy techniques quantitatively compare the attenuation of radiation at two energies to distinguish, for example, between bone and soft tissue. Dual energy techniques allow the measure of bone mass, such measurement being important in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
The limited area of the beam of radiation used in scanning radiographic systems requires that the beam be moved over an area, if a conventional image is to be formed. Typically, the pencil or fan beam will be scanned in a raster pattern over the area to be measured, each line of the scan separated by the width of the pencil or fan beam, with the directions of scanning being generally perpendicular to the direction of the radiation.
Images formed by a scanning radiographic system are potentially more accurate than those produced by a typical broad beam radiograph system. This accuracy arises from the limited divergence of the rays of the pencil or fan beam from the principal axis of the radiation, as compared to a broad area cone beam. This narrow collimation of the pencil or fan beam reduces "parallax" in the projected image, potentially providing extremely accurate morphological measurements of certain structures such as the vertebrae in the spine. Such morphological measurements are used to evaluate various dimensions of a vertebra to detect crushing or other deformation that are one element of certain bone diseases such as osteoporosis. See e.g. Minne et al., "A Newly Developed Spine Deformity Index (SDI) to Quantitate Vertebral Crush Factors in Patients with Osteoporosis," Bone and Mineral, 3:335-349 (1988); J. C. Gallagher et al, "Vertebral Morphometry: Normative Data," Bone and Mineral, 4:189-196 (1988); Hedlund et al, "Vertebral Morphometry in Diagnosis of Spinal Fractures," Bone and Mineral, 5:59-67 (1988); and Hedlund et al, " Change in Vertebral Shape in Spinal Osteoporosis," Calcified Tissue International, 44:168-172 (1989). Automatic techniques for morphological measurements of bone are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/944,626 filed Sep. 14, 1992 and entitled: "Method for Analyzing Vertebral Morphology Using Digital Radiography" assigned to the same assignee as the present application and hereby incorporated by reference
In order to make accurate morphological measurements and to provide clinically valuable dual energy measurements of a variety of body structures, the radiation source and detector should be easily positioned at different angles about the patient. Further, at each such angle, the radiation source and detector must have the necessary clearance from the patient to perform the required scanning. Because the scanning can take some length of time, the patient must be fully supported, typically in a supine position, and yet ideally the patient support must be constructed so as to not unduly interfere with the attenuation measurements made during the scan. Finally, the positioning of the patient with respect to the radiation source and detector should be such as to maximize the quality of the morphological data obtained.

Patient positioning apparatus for bone scanning


This application discloses a light-responsive hydrogel-based platform that can modulate multiple microenvironmental signals to direct the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells (hiPSC-NPCs) into neuronal cells. The invention provides novel methods for directing differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons useful for treatment of degenerative diseases or disorders, including but not limited to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or spinal cord injury (SCI).

Over the last decade, stem cells have gained tremendous attention for applications in regenerative medicine. The inherent ability of stem cells to self-renew and to differentiate into specialized cell types makes them an attractive area of research. Pluripotent stem cells (such as embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) have become especially popular since they can provide cells for essentially every tissue and organ in the body, making them a type of universal cell source. In particular, these cells hold great potential in neuroscience for the treatment of numerous nervous system disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury) since they provide an unlimited source of engraftable neural cells. While pluripotent stem cells afford great opportunities for exploring the devastating deficiencies in neuro-regenerative medicine, controlling stem cell fate towards specific neuronal cell lineage is one of the most pressing concerns to address before their therapeutic application can be fully realized.
To this end, the cellular microenvironment (composed of soluble signals, insoluble/physical signals and cell-cell interactions) plays a decisive role in regulating stem cell differentiation. However, the function of stem cell microenvironmental factors on differentiation is extremely difficult to investigate since these studies require extensive knowledge of multiple regulatory signals and how they interact to influence cellular function. While generous progress has been made in an attempt to address these concerns, the conventional methods currently available for such an investigation are still limited. At the same time, current therapy has seen the survival of only a small fraction of the stem cells or their differentiated cell types when implanted in vivo, due to inflammation and hypoxia present at the damaged site. In turn, several obstacles such as preparing engraftable homogenous neural cells and improving the ability to precisely control neural cell fate must be surmounted before innovative clinical approaches for neuro-regenerative medicine can be developed.

Stem cell differentiation using novel light-responsive hydrogels

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY


Disclosed are a stacked semiconductor package and a method for manufacturing the same. The method for manufacturing a stacked semiconductor package includes preparing a substrate formed with a seed metal layer; laminating semiconductor chips having via holes aligned with one another on the seed metal layer to form a semiconductor chip module; and growing a conductive layer inside of the via holes using the seed metal layer to form a conductive growth layer inside of the via holes.

The present invention relates to a stacked semiconductor package and a method for manufacturing the same.
Recently, semiconductor devices have been developed that are capable of storing massive data and processing the stored data in a short time.
Generally, a semiconductor package is manufactured through a semiconductor chip manufacturing process in which devices such as a transistor, a resistor, a capacitor and so on are integrated on a semiconductor chip formed on a wafer to form the semiconductor chip. Then, a packaging process occurs in which the semiconductor chip is separated from the wafer and is electrically connected to an external circuit board and packaged such that the highly brittle semiconductor chip can be protected from externally applied shocks and vibrations.
Recently, due to technical developments in a packaging process, a chip scale package has been developed having a size of no other than 100% to 105% of a semiconductor chip size and a stacked semiconductor package in which a plurality of semiconductor chips are stacked thereby enhancing data storage capacity and data processing speed.
In these packages, the stacked semiconductor package has a structure in that stacked semiconductor chips are connected with one another by conductors for signal input/output among the plurality of the stacked semiconductor chips.
In conventional stacked semiconductor packages, in order to connect stacked semiconductor chips to one another, each semiconductor chip or wafer formed with semiconductor chips is formed with via holes and the via hole is filled with conductive material thereby forming a conductor connected with the upper and lower semiconductor chips.
The semiconductor chips or wafers having a via hole filled with the conductor are stacked and consequently a stacked semiconductor package is manufactured, in which the conductors of the semiconductor chips are electrically connected with one another.
However, in order to manufacture the conventional stacked semiconductor package as described above, the conductor should be formed in every semiconductor chip or wafer, which involves a complicated manufacturing process.
In addition, the conventional stacked semiconductor package frequently suffers from a poor electric connection between the stacked semiconductor chips.

Stacked semiconductor package and method for manufacturing the same


Efficient fluorescence detection is achieved by optically guiding fluorescence light generated by color centers within a sample to photodetectors outside the sample. A fluorescence detection system may use a sample containing one or more fluorescence color centers that emit fluorescent light when irradiated with excitation light from an optical source. The sample has an index of refraction greater than its surrounding medium. The sample may include one or more output faces and further include at least two opposing faces configured to internally reflect the fluorescent light emitted by the fluorescent color centers, and to optically guide the emitted fluorescent light to the one or more output faces. The fluorescence detection system may include one or more optical detector configured to receive fluorescent light emitted through the one or more output faces, and a microwave source configured to manipulate the electronic spin of the fluorescent color centers.

A variety of fluorescent point defect centers in diamond have been identified that have potential applications in fields that include quantum information and biological imaging. In particular, the negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center has attracted much interest. Demonstrated applications of NV centers include, without limitation, quantum information processing, super-resolution microscopy, Nano scale magnetometer using a single NV, and vector magnetic field imaging using ensembles of NVs.
For all of these applications, the photon collection efficiency is critically important.
Conventional methods of fluorescence detection typically result in photon collection efficiencies ηc of only about 10% or less. For example, a common limitation of experiments using color centers in diamond is the poor photon collection efficiency of microscope objectives due to refraction at the diamond interface. When detector coupling and quantum efficiencies are taken into account, photon detection efficiencies ηd of 2% or less are typical.

Efficient fluorescence detection in solid state spin systems

PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE


A magnetic bra hanger is provided. The bra hanger is configured to magnetically receive an underwire of a bra to attach the bra to the hanger. The bra hanger may be configured to hang a single bra, or a plurality of bras.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for properly storing women's bras. More particularly the present invention relates to a magnetic hanger device to hang women's bras on by magnetic attraction of an underwire of a bra to a magnet.
Description of Related Art
Traditionally, women's bras are stored in a drawer, box, or the like. While this may be a convenient and simple method of storage, storage in this manner eventually damages the bras, resulting in a shortened life of the bra. Generally, during storage in the drawer, the bras are stacked together and/or mixed in with other undergarments, shirts, pants, and the like. As such, the cups of the bras are often crushed, folded, bent, or otherwise deformed from their natural shape. This causes the cup material to become damaged, resulting in wrinkles, bumps and other deformations. These deformations can often be seen through thin shirts, and at this point a bra must be discarded.
Therefore, what is needed is a device that may efficiently and conveniently store bras without causing damage from deformation of the bra or similar improper storage.


A system and method in which the receiving chip separately latches each half of the data received from the double data rate bus. Each half is launched as soon as it is available; one on the normal chip cycle time and the other is launched from a Master (L1) latch a half cycle into the normal chip cycle time. The first launched half of the data proceeds through the chip along its standard design chip path to be captured by the chips driving interface latch and launched again after one cycle of latency on the chip. The second half of the data proceeds through the chip one half cycle behind the first half, and is latched a half clock cycle later part way through the path into a Slave (L2) latch. On the next edge of the local clock, the data then continues from the L2 latch to the driving double data rate interface. This allows a half cycle set up time for the second half of the data so that it can be launched again, maintaining a one-cycle time on the chip.

In digital data systems in general and in computer and telecommunications systems in particular, there is an ever-increasing drive for larger bandwidth and higher performance. These systems are comprised of discreet integrated circuit chips that are interconnected. Data moves through a chip and between chips in response to clock pulses, which, among other things, maintain synchronization of the data in parallel paths. At the extremely high data rates in today's systems, variations in the propagation of data over a bus along one path as compared to another path on the bus (i.e. skew) can exceed one clock cycle. U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,163, which is assigned to the assignee of this application and is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a so called Elastic Interface (EI) that can compensate for bus skew greater than one clock cycle without a performance penalty. However, packaging technology has not been able scale up to match the performance and bandwidth of the chip and interface technologies. In order to reduce the number I/O terminals on a chip and the number of conductive paths in a bus between chips, the prior art transfers data at a so called Double Data Rate (DDR), in which data is launched onto the bus at both the rising and falling edges of the clock. This allows the same amount of data to be transferred (i.e. bandwidth) with only half the number of bus conductors and half the number of chip I/O ports, as compared with a system where data is transferred only on a rising or a falling clock edge. Here it should be noted, that only half the data as compared to bus with twice the conductors is sent on each edge, referred to as the odd and the even half for convenience.
Often a double data rate bus is used between one chip and a next chip and another double data rate bus is used between that next chip and a still another chip. This so called daisy chain of chips with double data rate interfaces, typically includes a chip or chips with a local clock frequency that is the same as the double data rate synchronous interface clock frequency. In the prior art as illustrated in FIG. 1, the odd and even half of the data is aligned at the receiver to the on chip clock and then later driven across the next interface at the double data rate frequency. This alignment or serialization step requires that part of the data wait for all parts of the data to become available to the receiving chip, which increases the latency of the data. The prior art DDR synchronous interface adds an extra cycle receiver delay to align data before sending data out to a DDR data driver. On the DDR data driver side, another cycle extra delay is also needed if signal arrive at the driver later than the DDR driver launch setup time (data arrive later than the driver Master latch clock rising edge). In order to process DDR data with the synchronous clock on chip, DDR data stream is pipelined through two separate internal data paths. One data path is for the data corresponding to the half clock cycle when the DDR synchronous clock is high (known as the Even data), the other data path is for the data corresponding to the half clock cycle when the DDR synchronous clock is low (known as the Odd data). The shortcomings of the prior art are that the Even data are delayed a cycle to line up with the Odd data at the DDR receiver output port then pipelined to the chip internal logic. At the last stage of the data path pipeline, the Odd data are held an extra half cycle before launching off the chip.

Double data rate chaining for synchronous DDR interfaces


A built-in monitor apparatus such as an electronic game machine which is adapted to allow a built-in monitor unit having a rectangular picture screen to rotate in a 90-degree arc and includes a monitor unit comprising a cathode-ray tube; a base unit comprising a frame for rotatably supporting the monitor unit, and a stretchable damper biased to be moved forward, each end of the damper being pivotally connected to a portion between the frame and said casing; a guide roller mounted on the frame and adapted to slide along a guide rail provided within the casing; and a locking element for restraining the movement of the frame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a built-in monitor apparatus such as an electronic game machine and etc., which is adapted to allow a built-in monitor unit having a rectangular picture screen to rotate in a 90-degree arc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is a recent trend to enlarge the size of the picture screen of an electronic game machine, for example up to 22-30 inches. On the other hand, there is a demand to minimize the casing for the electronic game machine as small as possible in view of a limited space for installing a number of the electronic game machines in a play room. It is also desirable to array the casings of the electronic game machines as close as possible to each other for effectively utilizing a limited installation space for the electronic game machines. Under these circumstances, it has become increasingly troublesome for an operator to change over the oblong picture screen of an electronic game machine from the vertically elongated state to the horizontally elongated state, and vice versa. Therefore, innovation on this point is now demanded in the art.
Conventionally the change-over of the oblong picture screen of an electronic game machine has been conducted as follows. First, the wirings of a monitor unit and fixing screws are detached from the casing thereof, and then the monitor unit is taken out of the casing of the electronic game machine. Thereafter, the monitor unit is turned to change the posture of the picture screen, i. e. from the vertically elongated state to the horizontally elongated state, and then the monitor unit is returned to the inside of the casing thereof. Finally, the fixings of wirings and fixing screws are conducted.
There has been also proposed as an alternative system a mechanism for rotating the oblong picture screen of an electronic game machine, in which the monitor unit is mounted on a rotatable disc so as to be rotated together with the disc.
However, the former mechanism in which the monitor unit is once taken out of the casing and, after effecting the change-over of the posture of the picture screen, returned to the casing is suffered from problems in that as the monitor unit becomes larger in size and heavier in weight, the more it becomes difficult to conduct the change-over operation.
The latter mechanism of rotating the monitor unit in a 90-degree arc together with the mounting disc is also suffered from problems in that in order to allow the rotation of monitor unit the area of monitor-mounting side of the casing is required to be equal to or larger in size than a square area encircled by four sides, each having a length corresponding to the diagonal line of the picture screen of the monitor unit, thereby inevitably causing an increase in size of the casing.


In producing tooth shapes of two toothed rings of an annular gear machine, a starting geometry of a first toothed ring, at least one quality criterion of the annular gear machine, and a desired eccentricity between rotational axes of the two toothed rings are defined. A motion is performed with the starting geometry that performs a rotational motion about its rotational axis and a revolving motion about the rotational axis of the second toothed ring. The rotational and revolving motions are coupled so the rotational angle of the eccentricity equals the product of the rotational angle and tooth count of the first toothed ring. A tooth shape contour of the second toothed ring is generated by recording the path described by the envelope of the starting geometry. If the defined quality criterion is not met, the previously used starting geometry and/or the defined eccentricity is changed and steps are repeated.

Annular gear machines (gerotor machines) possess an inner ring and an outer ring, each of them provided with teeth and tooth gaps regularly distributed about the circumference. The rotational axes of the inner ring and the outer ring are eccentrically set off from each other. The inner ring usually has exactly one tooth less than there are tooth gaps provided at the inner toothing of the outer ring. Annular gear machines today are often used as annular gear pumps, for example, in vehicles as the main pump of the internal combustion engine. The displacement space formed by tooth gaps and housing walls changes with the rotation of the annular gears, so that delivery of hydraulic fluid is accomplished. The delivery volume per revolution is constant in this case. The teeth of the outside-toothed inner ring are usually formed according to various rules for the roll-off behavior of the outer ring. One such known rule is, for example, the movement of the generating contour according to the laws of cycloidal curves rolling on a fixed pitch circle.
The geometries chosen have substantial influence on the delivery behavior, the efficiency, the quiet running and the wear of an annular gear machine. In particular, the design process can configure the tooth shapes, the eccentricity of the rotational axes of the two annular gears, and the remaining play between individual tooth segments without a direct dependency on the external conditions that are dictated by the attached drive unit.
Tooth profiles for annular gears are known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,055 that have circular tooth tips and circular tooth base profiles that are joined to each other via straight flanks. There is also a method known from this patent for generating such tooth shapes that can be used, for example in annular gear machines. With the method proposed there, however, it is not possible to achieve a major goal of an annular gear machine, namely, to configure a geometrically closed delivery cell at all times between the two annular gears in the course of the motion, or if so only in very narrow limits. This is especially important to the efficiency of the annular gear pump and the pressures which can be achieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,960,884 likewise describes annular gear machines and ways of determining the tooth geometry. The tooth generating method indicated there is mainly suited to accomplishing an evolvent type motion sequence between functionally coupled tooth geometries. The aforementioned main goal of an annular gear machine, namely, uniform tightness of the delivery cell over the entire angle of rotation in the motion sequence, can only be partly accomplished with this method.
JP 10-205458 A indicates a method for determining the tooth geometry of an annular gear pump. Here, the tooth of an outer ring is described by coupled circular arcs, after which the toothing of the inner ring can be generated. The definition of special geometries of toothing schemes with undercuts or to reduce the Hertzian pressure is hardly possible, if at all, due to being limited to describing the tooth shape by means of a defined number of circular arcs.
From EP 1 340 913 B1 and DE 102 08 408 A1 there is known a gear machine that has uses as an annular gear pump. The primary goal here is to optimize the geometry of the gears in order to lessen the noise during operation of the pump. The tooth tips and tooth roots used have a geometry that is described by curves of second or higher order, while the tooth roots or the flanks of the tooth roots are formed by circular arcs. To determine the profile contours of the toothing it is proposed to specify the inner toothing of the outer rotor as the master toothing. The tooth root profile contour of the inner rotor is derived kinematically from the tooth tip profile contour of the inner toothing by the law of gear meshing, while the tooth tip profile contour is obtained from the generating cuts of the tooth root profile contour of the inner toothing. The bearing points of the polygons representing the tooth roots of the outer toothing are determined by the law of gear meshing, while the bearing points of the spline functions representing the tooth tips of the outer toothing are found by a generating cut method. However, studies have shown that the tooth shapes which can be generated in this way lead to limitations in regard to efficiency and flow conditions in the annular gear machine. Another drawback is the rigid definition of the root fillet, which has limiting effect on the configuration of a dirt catching space, for example.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,072 reveals a method for the design of the tooth shape of an annular gear machine, wherein at first a radial cam distance is determined and then a cam radius is varied by iteration until a single-point distance and a double-point distance equal the determined cam distance.
DE 30 26 222 A1 shows an annular gear pump in which the theoretical tooth shape of the pinion is determined by rolling off the pinion pitch circle on the hollow wheel pitch circle. One starts with a particular shape of toothing for the design of the tooth shape of the pinion. The method is only applicable to this particular tooth shape.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,666,336 shows a method for the design of toothings for rotoids which have different tooth relations, unlike gerotors (annular gear machines). The starting point is an outer circle with diameter A and a pinion circle with diameter B, from which one gets the eccentricity E.
In the article "Design of deviatation-function based gerotors", Shih-Hsi Tong et al., Mechanism and Machine Theory 44 (2009) 1595-1606, a novel method is discussed for the generating of gerotor profiles. This method is based on the use of variance functions, but it requires time-consuming calculations and design steps and can lead to dimensioning problems, especially when undercuts are present.
One problem of the present invention is, starting from the prior art, to indicate a method for the generating of the tooth shapes of inner and outer ring of an annular gear machine, especially an annular gear pump, which is easy to implement, requires no extensive knowledge of mathematical relations, and affords the designer a broad dimensioning freedom to satisfy different demands on the annular gear machine being created. The goal is to dispense with the heretofore customary description of the tooth contours by cycloids, ellipses, evolvents, circular arcs, or similar mathematically easily described curve segments, since these limit the possible geometries of the tooth shapes. At the same time, the tooth shapes generated should be described with sufficient accuracy by the currently available technical aids, especially CAD and CAM systems, so as to enable an automated manufacturing of corresponding inner and outer rings with available machine tools.
The above problem is solved by a method according to the enclosed claim 1.

Method for producing the tooth shape of the inner and outer ring of an annular gear machine and toothed ring produced by means of said method


An embodiment may include an integrated module that may include a physical layer network device and a cable connector receptacle. The physical layer network device may be physically and electrically coupled to the cable connector receptacle. The physical layer network device may include a circuit board. The circuit board may be directly physically coupled to the receptacle. The circuit board also may be electrically coupled to the receptacle. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.

In one conventional host computer, the host includes an motherboard to which are mounted a chipset, an Ethernet PHY device, and an Ethernet connector module. The chipset is electrically connected to the PHY device, and the PHY device is electrically connected to the connector module. The module includes an RJ45 connector and an Ethernet physical layer isolation module. The PHY device and Ethernet connector module each have separate respective footprints, and are mounted to different respective locations on the motherboard, and therefore, consume multiple areas of the motherboard. As result, the PHY device and connector module may take up more motherboard surface area than is desirable.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the claimed subject matter be viewed broadly.

Integrated module including physical layer network device, receptacle and physical layer isolation module


An apparatus to enhance the use of scents including a housing which has an interior surface and an external surface. The housing also has an input end and an output end and downwardly extending legs. A fan is provided with a drive shaft. The fan is located within the housing adjacent to the output end. A foam padding is provided and is located adjacent to the inlet end of the housing to hold the fan during operation and use. A source of potential is provided with an associated line coupled to the fan motor and with an off/on switch to selectively energize and de-energize the power source and the fan. Lastly, a radial aperture is formed in the upper extent of the housing in proximity to the output end and a liquid-retaining sponge member has a quantity of animal-attracting fluid therein and a line having an upper end extending through, and supporting within. The aperture and a lower end support the sponge member adjacent to the output end of the housing in proximity to the axis whereby when the switch is activated to power the fan. A flow of air is directed over the sponge member and liquid therein for generating an odor to attract animals for being hunted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus to enhance the use of scents and more particularly pertains to disseminating an animal-attracting odor to enhance hunting.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of hunting aids of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, hunting aids of known designs and configurations heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of improving hunting techniques through known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,584 to Jarvis, issued May 3, 1994 discloses a deer scent dispenser and method. U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,541 to Simpson, issued Apr. 26, 1994 discloses a game scent dispensing apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,347 to Dawn, issued Feb. 28, 1989 discloses a fan driven air freshener. U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,077 to Corning, issued Jun. 21, 1966 discloses a wick-type deodorizer and attachment means. U.S. Pat. No. 2,662,332 to McIntire, issued Dec. 15, 1953 discloses an insecticide fogger. Lastly, foreign patent numbers EP 0462 605 A2 to Orson, Issue/Priority Date Jun. 19, 1991 discloses a fragrance dispensing composition with controlled evaporation rate and air fragrance dispenser for dispensing same and WO 96/03218 to Hart et al., Issue/Priority Date Feb. 8, 1996 discloses an apparatus for providing bursts of spray of a fluid.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe apparatus to enhance the use of scents as described herein.
In this respect, the apparatus to enhance the use of scents according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of disseminating an animal-attracting odor to enhance hunting.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved apparatus to enhance the use of scents which can be used for disseminating an animal-attracting odor to enhance hunting. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A process for producing a self-aligned contact comprises the steps of forming leads on a substrate, forming an etching stop layer on the leads by depositing, then forming a sacrificed oxide layer; after the structure of the leads is defined, a spacer is formed on both sides of the structure; a sacrificed oxide layer is formed, allowing the spacer to protrude in the form of horn. Next, a dielectric layer having a flat upper surface is deposited on the substrate and the structure of leads, a contact hole being formed between the leads so as to connect the substrate, a conductive material being filled in the contact hole to form a plug.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a DRAM. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of fabricating self-aligned contacts between conductor lines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A process of producing the DRAM main purpose of self-alignment is that the isolation effect for the isolating layer being not reduced due to subsequent etching steps.
FIGS. 1A to 1B show cross-sectional views of a process for producing a non self-aligned contact.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a process for producing a non self-aligned contact includes forming conductor lines 102 on a substrate 100, depositing a dielectric layer 104 having a flat upper surface on the substrate 100 and conductor line 102; then defining a contact hole 106 into the dielectric layer 104 between two conductor lines 102 by etching so as to expose and connect the substrate 100.
Next, referring to FIG. 1B, an isolating spacer 108 is formed on the sidewall of the contact holes 106. Finally, a conductive material is deposited to form a conductive plug 110.
With increasing integrity, the distance between the conductor lines is shortened. In the above mentioned process for producing contacts, it may result in exposure of the conductor lines to the contact hole because of non self-alignment when a dielectric layer is etched to form contact holes.
Two processes for producing a self-aligned contact to improve the disadvantages caused from the above method are known in the art. One of them is showed in FIGS. 2A-2C, the other in FIGS. 2A, 2D-2F.
Referring to FIG. 2A, a general process for producing a self-aligned contact includes forming conductor lines 202 on a substrate 200, depositing a cap layer 204 on the leads 202, then forming an isolating layer 206 on the substrate 200 and cap layer 204.
Next, referring to FIG. 2B, etching is carried out so as to allow the cap layer 204 to be exposed, and an isolating spacer 206a is formed on both sidewalls of the conductor line 202.
Finally, referring to FIG. 2C, a dielectric layer 208 with a flat upper surface is deposited on the substrate 200 and cap layer 204. A contact hole which will be connected with the substrate 200 is defined between two conductor lines 202 and formed by etching part of the dielectric layer 208. Finally, a conductive material is deposited in the contact hole to form a conductive plug 212.
With the process for producing a contact, a part of the cap layer and spacer will be etched off to be thinner. It will result in the poor isolation characteristics between conductor lines and plugs.
Referring to FIG. 2A, another process for producing self-aligned contact is disclosed. Conductor lines 202 are patterned on a substrate 202. A cap layer 204 is deposited on the leads 202. Then, an isolating layer 206 is deposited on the cap layer 204 and substrate 200.
Referring to FIG. 2E, a contact hole 210 which will be connected with the substrate 200 is defined between two conductor lines 202 and formed by etching a part of the dielectric layer 208.
Referring to FIG. 2F, a conductive material is deposited in the contact hole to form a conductive plug 212.
When the dielectric layer was etched by this method, the isolating layer in the bottom of the contact hole will be etched together with the dielectric layer. The bottom of contact hole will have residues if existing non-complete etching on bottom isolating layer. It will result in increased resistance of the contact between the contact hole and the substrate.
The invention thus provides a process for producing a self-aligned contact, which improves the disadvantages of the prior art, such as poor isolating characteristics between contact holes and conductor lines and non complete etching on the bottom area between the contact hole and substrate.
The process according to the present invention comprises the steps of forming conductor lines on a substrate, forming an etching stop layer on the conductor lines by depositing, then forming a sacrificed oxide layer, after the structure of the conductor lines is defined, forming a spacer on each side of the structure, removing the sacrificed oxide layer, allowing the spacer to protrude in the form of horn. Next, a dielectric layer having a flat upper surface is deposited on the substrate and the conductor lines, a contact hole being formed between the structure of the conductor lines so as to connect the substrate, and a conductive material then being filled in the contact hole and back-etched to form a plug.
The main advantage of the present invention is that: with the structure of spacer, a stack structure of a conductor line layer, an etching stop layer and a sacrificed oxide layer, the spacer subsequently formed is pulled up, then protruding in the form of horn by removing the sacrificed oxide layer.
Because the etchant with higher etching selectivity for the dielectric layer to silicon nitride is used during forming the contact hole by removing part of the dielectric layer, the tip of the horn-shaped silicon nitride spacer is etched less. It can avoid the spacer at the top outside the structure of conductor lines to be etched off to cause the problem of poor isolating characteristics and exposure of conductor lines.
Additionally, according to the present invention, the spacer is very important during forming the contact hole by removing the dielectric layer. It can, improve the isolation between the conductor lines and the conductive plug. Furthermore, the problem of non-complete etching of the dielectric layer in the bottom of the contact can be also improved.
Another advantage of the present invention is to improve the process window. Because the spacer can not be etched readily during forming the contact hole by etching the dielectric layer, the limit to the time of etching has a broader range, achieving an improvable process window.
There is lower contact resistance between the contact hole and the substrate, because the contact area between the contact hole and substrate is etched more completely.

Method of fabricating self-aligned contacts

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp.


A resistive random access memory includes a memory cell including a resistive element having a resistance which varies according to a write operation and stores data according to the resistance of the resistive element, a reference resistive element having a resistance set to a first value, a voltage line set to a first voltage during a first write operation in which the resistance of the resistive element is varied from a second value higher than the first value to the first value, and a voltage control circuit arranged between first ends of the two resistive elements. The voltage control circuit adjusts a value of the first voltage supplied from the voltage line so as to reduce a difference between currents flowing through the two resistive elements during the first write operation, and supply the adjusted first voltage to the first ends of the two resistive elements.

The resistive random access memory (sometimes also referred to as a "ReRAM") refers to a semiconductor memory or a semiconductor memory device having memory cells which store data according to resistance. The memory cell of the resistive random access memory has a resistive element including metal oxide, sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. The resistance of the resistive element varies according to a voltage applied to the resistive element. A logic level or value of the data stored in the memory cell is determined, based on a current flowing through the resistive element according to the resistance thereof.
In order to improve the accuracy of the resistance of the resistive element set by writing the data, the following write control is performed. For example, the data may be written by supplying a current from a constant current source to a resistive element of a replica cell having the same structure as the memory cell, and applying a voltage identical to a voltage generated at a node connecting the constant current source and the replica cell, to the resistive element of the memory cell (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-093687, for example). In addition, the data may be written by determining the resistance, by comparing a voltage appearing on a bit line during a confirmation read operation prior to the writing with a plurality of reference voltages, and controlling a write amplifier according to a determination result of the resistance (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2014-203505, for example).
Typically, the resistive random access memory (chip) has a large number of resistive elements, and the resistances of the resistive elements may vary depending on process variations during manufacturing of the resistive random access memory, and positions of the resistive elements on the chip. The variation of the resistance appears as a variation of a read current that is read from the memory cell during a read operation of the resistive random access memory. Hence, the read current variation may deteriorate a read margin.
When reducing the variation of the resistance of the resistive element by performing a confirmation read operation before writing the data, a circuit for performing the confirmation read operation is required. In addition, because the confirmation read operation is included in a data write cycle, the data write cycle is lengthened thereby.

Resistive random access memory, and method for manufacturing resistive random access memory

FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY SOLUTION LIMITED


This invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a cleaning device is arranged above a photosensitive drum close thereto. The image forming apparatus has an image processing unit provided with the photosensitive drum. The photosensitive drum is constructed such that a gear portion formed in a flange member at one axial end of the photosensitive drum has a diameter not greater than an outer diameter of the photosensitive drum. The image processing unit is constructed such that a driving force from the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the photosensitive drum via the gear portion formed in the one flange member to rotate the photosensitive drum and is transmitted to at least one of image processor means via a gear portion formed in a flange member at the opposite axial end of the photosensitive drum. With this arrangement, a poor image formation due to a blocking phenomenon resulting from long stay of toner residues can be prevented and downsizing of the image forming apparatus is realized.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a photosensitive drum and an image processing unit for use in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, or a facsimile machine.
2. Description of the Background Art
An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit with a photosensitive drum is known. The image forming apparatus is operated in such a manner that an electrostatic latent image obtained from an image on an original document is formed on a surface of the photosensitive drum, developed into a toner image by attracting toner onto the latent image, and the toner image is transferred onto a copy sheet and fixed thereon. After the image forming operation, toner residues on the surface of the photosensitive drum are removed by a mechanical means or by utilizing static electricity.
Generally, a cleaning device which removes toner residues by the mechanical means is operated such that a cleaning blade is provided in pressing contact with the surface of the drum surface. Toner residues are scraped out from the drum surface by a frictional force generated between the drum surface and the blade in contact therewith, and the scraped out toner residues are collected by one of the following ways: 1) the toner residues are directly collected in a toner collecting container provided in the cleaning device; 2) carried into a toner collecting container by a rotational force of a screw shaft provided in a cleaning device; or 3) directly returned to a developing unit for reuse (recycling operation).
FIG. 6 shows an image forming apparatus provided with an image processing unit of the prior art. Referring to FIG. 6, a cleaning device 40 is provided above a photosensitive drum 41. In this arrangement, a cleaning blade 40a and a lower edge 40c of a casing member 40b which integrally and unitarily constitutes the cleaning device 40 come into contact with an upper circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 41 in parallel to each other.
Toner residues scraped out by the cleaning blade 40a are required to be promptly carried into a toner collecting container (not shown) disposed away from the photosensitive drum 41.
More specifically, toner residues scraped out from the drum surface are collected in a chamber 40d defined by the cleaning blade 40a and the casing member 40b of the cleaning device 40. The toner residues collected in the chamber 40d are carried away into the toner collecting container by rotating a screw shaft 40e provided in the cleaning device 40. The screw shaft 40e is longer than an axial length of the photosensitive drum 41.
Referring to FIG. 6, this image forming apparatus comprises a developing unit 42, a transfer roller 43, a blank lamp (light source for removing remaining charges on the drum surface) 44, a main charger 45, a fixing unit 46, and an optical unit 47. A copy sheet P which is dispensed out of a paper cassette 48 is discharged onto a stacker tray 49 after an image is formed on the copy sheet P while being transported along the direction of arrow B.
In this image forming apparatus, the screw shaft 40e is rotated by driving a pinion gear provided at one axial end of the screw shaft 40e and a gear portion formed in a flange member at one end of the photosensitive drum 41 in the axial direction which is in mesh with the screw shaft pinion gear. In such an arrangement, there is a tendency that a large amount of toner residues remains in the chamber 40d because the outer circumference of screw shaft 40e is provided away from the outer circumference of the photosensitive drum 41, i.e., is not provided sufficiently close to the outer circumference of photosensitive drum 41. If such large amount of toner residues remains in the chamber 40d, toner discharge out of the chamber 40d is not performed properly due to a "blocking phenomenon" (toner discharge is blocked by the toner residues which have already heaped up in a compressed state and clogged in the chamber 40d). Consequently, a poor image formation results from the blocking phenomenon.
Further, other image processor means (peripheral devices) such as the developing device and the main charger which are arranged in the periphery of the photosensitive drum cannot be disposed close to the photosensitive drum as well as the cleaning device because of the large gear portion formed in the flange member at the axial end of the photosensitive drum. Thereby, there cannot be avoided production of a large-scaled image processing unit or an image forming apparatus as a whole.

Photosensitive drum and image processing unit


A method of reducing or eliminating off-flavor in water or fish by controlling cyanobacteria or algae in the water wherein cyanobacteria or algae produce agents that cause the off-flavor. The cyanobacteria or algae are susceptible to a new Bacterium NRRL B-30043 which heretofore has not been identified or recognized as a useful agent in controlling cyanobacteria or algae. By simply treating a body of water having an off-flavor with Bacterium NRRL B-30043, the off-flavor is reduced or eliminated. Commercial fisheries or nurseries which produce channel catfish for human consumption will benefit from using this environmentally friendly Bacterium NRRL B-30043 to reduce or eliminate off-flavor in the catfish.

Off-flavor has been identified as one of the most serious problems in the catfish industry. Off-flavor can render fish unpalatable, and thus delay the harvesting and marketing of commercially produced fish such as channel catfish. Losses due to off-flavor often run into the thousands of dollars for each incidence of the problem, and annual losses exceed $100 million.
Off-flavor is a complex phenomenon that is related to the absorption of compounds that are produced by cyanobacteria, algae, and actinomycetes. Geosmin (trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) are produced by cyanobacteria and actinomycetes, and these two compounds have been shown to cause off-flavor in channel catfish. Although the roles of the various organisms and compounds are not completely understood, most geosmin off-flavor in commercially produced channel catfish has been attributed to species of Anabaena, while MIB off-flavor has been linked to a planktonic species identified as Oscillatoria cf. chalybea.
The concept of controlling off-flavor by management of cyanobacteria has been proposed (Van der Ploeg, M.; Proc. World Aquaculture Soc., p. 71, 1994 (Abst.)), but no selective control measures have been developed. Conventional control practices include application of broad-spectrum algicides, such as copper sulfate or diurion [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea]. The introduction of certain chemical agents to fresh water reservoirs or fisheries for the reduction, control or elimination of off-flavor can be undesirable. Alternative approaches not requiring the addition of chemical agents are preferred but almost nonexistant.
Viruses and microorganisms are involved in the population dynamics of cyanobacteria in nature, but there are no reports of attempts to use biological control technology to manage cyanobacteria in channel catfish ponds.
Thus, there remains a significant need for the development of alternate strategies for the reduction of off-flavor in fresh water supplies and in fish harvested from fresh water nurseries.

Bacterium NRRL B-30043 for controlling algae

Louisiana Tech University Foundation, Inc.


A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer; a source electrode disposed above one main surface of the semiconductor layer; a drain electrode disposed below another main surface of the semiconductor layer; and an insulation gate section. The semiconductor layer may include a drift region of a first conductivity type; a JFET region of the first conductivity type disposed above the drift region; a body region of a second conductivity type disposed above the drift region and adjoining the JFET region; and a source region of the first conductivity type separated from the JFET region by the body region. The insulation gate section may be opposed to a portion of the body region that separates the JFET region and the source region, a space may be provided within the semiconductor layer, and the drift region, the JFET region and the body region may be exposed to the space.

"Development of Normally-Off MOSFET on Homoepitaxial GaN" OYO BUTSURI, Vol. 86, No. 5, p. 376 (2017) describes a vertical semiconductor including a semiconductor layer, a source electrode disposed above one main surface of the semiconductor layer, and a drain electrode disposed below another main surface of the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer includes an n-type drift region, an n-type JFET region disposed above the drift region, and a p-type body region disposed above the drift region and adjoining the JFET region.
As pointed out in International Publication No. WO 2016/143099, it is known that in such a semiconductor device, electric field concentrates at a corner of a body region, that is, at a portion where three regions, namely a drift region, a JFET region, and the body region, are in contact. In this type of semiconductor device, a technique that suppresses dielectric breakdown at such a portion where electric field concentrates is demanded.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same


A bow sight is disclosed. The bow sight includes a generally transparent bow sight body. At least one fiber optic cable is provided in the bow sight body and generally surrounds a line of sight through the bow sight body.

Bow hunting has gained increasing popularity in the United States and abroad. Bow hunting is suitable for hunting a variety of wild game including deer, elk and bear, for example. Many bow hunters are challenged by the visual acuity and hand-to-eye coordination which is necessary to properly sight an arrow to a target for a successful kill.
Typically, a bow includes a front bow sight which is mounted on the body or frame of the bow and includes a sight pin. A rear bow sight is mounted typically on the string of the bow and includes a transparent peep which may be provided with cross-hairs. Adequate lighting is necessary for a hunter to aim an arrow at a target, as this requires alignment of the sight pin in the front bow sight with the target and alignment of the cross-hairs in the rear bow sight with the sight pin. Therefore, as dusk approaches, a bow hunter must frequently cease bow hunting due to inadequate lighting.
Accordingly, a bow sight is needed which is capable of gathering and focusing light to enable a bow hunter to aim an arrow at a target under low-light conditions.


A method for identifying data content comprises: establishing a character base which stores characters corresponding to various service applications and protocols; performing matching between contents of currently received data and the characters in the character base, and obtaining characters contained in the currently received data; identifying at least one of a service application and a protocol corresponding to the characters contained in the currently received data according to a mapping relation between characters and protocols as well as a mapping relation between characters and service applications. An apparatus for identifying data content is also disclosed. The technical scheme of the present invention can identify data content comprehensively and can be easily extended.

A multi-layer protocol stack structure is employed in the existing communication network. For example, four-layer protocol stack structure employed in TCP/IP network includes from top to button: an application layer, a transport layer, an internet layer and a link layer. Therefore, a packet transmitted in the existing communication network usually adopts a multi-layer protocol encapsulation format, i.e., protocol headers corresponding to multiple layer protocol stacks are encapsulated in turn outside of the payload of the packet.
Identifying data content includes identifying every layer protocol header of the packet and specific contents in the payload of the packet, or identifying contents of a data fragment in a data stream. According to identifying results, the method for identifying data content may be divided into two classes: one method is for identifying a protocol to which the data belongs; the other method is for identifying a service application of the data. The service application includes, except protocols, applications which can be identified from the contents of the data, such as an attack, virus, designated operation, etc. The method for identifying data content is applied abroad in various data processing devices in the communication network. For example, a bandwidth management device identifies the protocol to which the data content belongs, and further performs bandwidth restriction according to the protocol to which the data belongs. An Intrusion Detection System/Intrusion Prevention System (IDS/IPS) and some anti-virus products identify a service application of the data (attack, virus, etc.), and further perform resisting operation or give an alarm according to the identified service application.
However, in the prior art, identifying schemes for different protocols and service applications are different, and every data processing device identifies certain data content separately. For example, the bandwidth management device identifies the protocol to which the data belongs, while the anti-virus product identifies viruses in the data. Moreover, new identifying schemes need to be developed for newly extended protocols and service applications.
Therefore, in the prior art, the method for identifying data content has a single function and has no good scalability.

Method and apparatus for identifying data content


The invention is directed to a filter device for the removal of coarse components from a liquid component used in the manufacture of plastic materials. The filter device has a hollow housing in which a rotor is mounted. The rotor is provided with agitator blades which comb out any dead-flow zones.

The present invention relates to a filter device for separating coarse components from liquid components which contain powdered, fine-grain or fibrous solid particles, and which are used for the manufacture of plastic materials.
In the manufacture of plastic materials containing fillers from melts or free-flowing reaction components, the solid particles are added to the melt or to one of the reaction components, as for example in the manufacture of polyurethane reaction plastic materials. The fillers frequently contain coarse components in the form of agglomerates or impurities. As the plastic melt or reaction component charged with filler generally has to be extruded through nozzles in further processing, there is a risk of blockage of these nozzles due to the coarse particles. Sieve filters have been connected upstream, but these filters also became blocked very quickly.
The object of the present invention was to create a filter device which, without clogging up itself, separates coarse components.

Filter device for separating coarse components from liquid components


A looptaker driving arrangement in a zig-zag sewing machine includes: a rotatable drive shaft driving rotation of the looptaker of the sewing machine; a main drive member rotatably supported on the drive shaft; a secondary drive member fixed on the drive shaft for concurrent rotation therewith; a bushing rotatably mounted on the drive shaft with an eccentric outer periphery; and a coupling member rotatably mounted on the periphery of the bushing in eccentric relation to the drive shaft and engaging the main drive member and the secondary drive member. Rotation of the main drive member about the drive shaft axis combined with rotation of the bushing about the drive shaft axis relative to the main drive member angularly accelerates and decelerates the secondary drive member with respect to the main drive member and, in turn, angularly accelerates and decelerates the drive shaft. A gear arrangement provided for driving rotation of the bushing about the drive shaft axis relative to the main drive member includes: a first gear fixed to the drive shaft; a pair of connected gears rotatably mounted to the sewing machine; and a second gear fixedly connected to the bushing and rotatably supported on the drive shaft in coaxial relation thereto. The first gear meshingly engages a first one of the pair of gears and the second gear meshingly engages a second one of the pair of gears, whereby rotation of the drive shaft rotates the bushing about the drive shaft axis relative to the main drive member.

The present invention relates generally to sewing machines of the type wherein a thread-carrying needle is laterally shifted to form sewn stitches in a zig-zag pattern and, more particularly, relates to an arrangement for optimally positioning a hook of a looptaker of the sewing machine relative to laterally shifted loop-forming positions of the needle.
Sewing machines capable of forming an ornamental chain of lock stitches in laterally-shifting, zig-zag pattern are well known and in widespread commercial use. In a typical commercial zig-zag sewing machine, the thread-carrying needle is driven from a main drive shaft of the machine through intermediary eccentric cam mechanisms to reciprocate vertically upwardly and downwardly through a throat plate in a stitching bed of the machine frame while the needle is laterally shifted leftwardly and rightwardly in alteration in timed relation to the vertical reciprocatory movements of the needle. A looptaker having a peripheral hooked beak portion, commonly referred to as a hook, is rotatably driven beneath the throat plate in parallel relation to the laterally shifting movements of the needle by a secondary drive shaft driven from the main drive shaft in timed relation to the needle reciprocating vertical and laterally shifting movements. A thread-carrying bobbin is mounted stationarily alongside the looptaker. In operation, upon the completion of each downward stroke of the needle, a loop of the thread carried by the needle is formed as the needle begins its upward stroke, the timing of the rotation of the looptaker in relation to the needle being such that the hook of the looptaker seizes the loop and carries it around the bobbin to lock stitch the threads of the needle and bobbin together.
A long-standing and widely recognized problem in the operation of zig-zag sewing machines of the aforementioned type is that, since the looptaker is conventionally rotated at a constant angular speed about a fixed axis, the looptaker cannot present the hook in an optimal disposition with respect to the needle at both the laterally shifted leftward and rightward positions of the needle. Accordingly, it is conventional practice to coordinate the rotation of the looptaker with respect to the needle reciprocation as though the needle were being reciprocated in a non-shifting straight stitch position equidistant the leftward and rightward shifted needle positions for the zig-zag stitch. In this manner, the hook is equally out of optimal timed relationship with the needle at each of the needle's leftwardly and rightwardly shifted positions, whereby the hook prematurely takes the thread loop when the needle is shifted rightwardly in the direction towards the approaching hook and likewise is delayed in taking the loop when the needle is shifted leftwardly in the opposite direction away from the approaching hook. While the sewing machine is "acceptably" operable in this manner, missed stitches, broken needles, and prematurely worn hooks do occur.
Various proposals have been made to regulate the depth of needle penetration through the throat plate with respect to the hook to compensate for the shifted positions of the needle to improve the timing of the needle with respect to the hook, as representatively disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,159,523; 2,932,268; and 3,779,187. However, none of these arrangements are known to have met with any significant degree of commercial acceptance and success. In other types of zig-zag sewing machines, the looptaker or other looper device is arranged for lateral shifting in timed relation to the lateral shifting of the needle to achieve proper relative timing, as representatively disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,690,723; 3,490,401; and 3,783,810. It is also known in another type of zig-zag sewing machine to provide a cam-controlled mechanism for intentionally producing a pattern of missed stitches by selectively advancing or retarding rotation of the looptaker out of timed relationship with respect to the needle, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,042.
Finally, it is also known to angularly accelerate and decelerate the looptaker in timed relation to the shifting movements of the needle to position the hook of the looptaker in optimal relationship to the needle at each shifted position thereof, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,788. While this latter technique is considered superior to the aforementioned proposals, there still remains a potential for further improvement over the angular acceleration and deceleration arrangements disclosed in this particular patent.

Looptaker driving arrangement and method for zig-zag sewing machines