An IGBT is disposed in an IGBT portion, and an FWD is disposed in an FWD portion. A p-type base region and an n−-type drift region are alternately exposed in a trench longitudinal direction in a substrate front surface in a mesa portion between neighboring trenches in the IGBT portion. A p-type anode region and the n−-type drift region are alternately exposed in the trench longitudinal direction in the substrate front surface in a mesa portion in the FWD portion, and a repetitive structure is formed with a portion of the n−-type drift region sandwiched between p-type anode regions and one p-type anode region in contact with the portion as one unit region. The proportion occupied by the p-type anode region in one unit region (an anode ratio) (α) is 50% to 100%.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device.
Background Art
In response to demand for a reduction in size and an increase in performance in power supply instruments in the field of power electronics in recent years, efforts have been focused on improving performance with respect to increasing breakdown voltage, increasing current, reducing loss, increasing breakdown resistance, and increasing speed in power semiconductors. A MOS power device driven by a MOS gate (an insulated gate formed of metal-oxide-semiconductor) is commonly known as a power semiconductor device wherein increasing current and reducing loss are possible.
Two kinds of structure are widely known as MOS gate structures of the MOS power device, those being a planar gate structure, wherein a MOS gate is provided in plate form on a semiconductor substrate, and a trench gate structure, wherein a MOS gate is embedded in a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate. The trench gate structure is attracting attention in recent vertical power devices, as the structure thereof is such that low on-state resistance characteristics are easily obtained.
A device wherein the surfaces of a p-type channel region and an n-type semiconductor substrate are disposed so as to appear alternately in a longitudinal direction between parallel trenches, and the surface form of an n+-type emitter region selectively formed in a surface layer of the p-type channel region is wider on the trench side and becomes narrower toward the center between trenches, has been proposed as a vertical MOS power device with this trench gate structure (for example, refer to PTL 1).
Also, as another vertical MOS power device, there have also been advancements in the development of a reverse conducting IGBT (RC-IGBT) of a structure wherein an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and a freewheeling diode (FWD) connected in anti-parallel to the IGBT are integrated by being incorporated in the same semiconductor substrate (semiconductor chip), in order to achieve a reduction in size of a whole power conversion device.
A description will be given of an existing RC-IGBT. FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the structure of the existing RC-IGBT. FIG. 19 is a sectional view showing the sectional structure along a cutting line AA-AA′ of FIG. 18. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the existing RC-IGBT includes a general field stop IGBT (FS-IGBT) and an FWD connected in anti-parallel to the FS-IGBT on the same n−-type semiconductor substrate, which forms an n−-type drift region 101.
Normally, in order to connect an FWD in anti-parallel to an FS-IGBT, an RC-IGBT has a structure wherein, taking a p-type base region configuring a MOS gate structure on the front surface side of an n−-type semiconductor substrate to be a p-type anode region 105-2, one portion of a p+-type collector region 111 provided on the back surface side of the n−-type semiconductor substrate is replaced with an n+-type cathode region 112. Specifically, an IGBT portion 121 in which an FS-IGBT is provided and an FWD portion 122 in which an FWD is provided are provided on the same n−-type semiconductor substrate.
A trench gate type MOS gate structure formed of a trench 102, gate insulating film 103, gate electrode 104, p-type base region 105-1, n+-type emitter region 106, and p+-type contact region 107, and an emitter electrode 109, are provided on the front surface side of the n−-type semiconductor substrate in the IGBT portion 121. The p-type base region 105-1 is disposed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the trench 102 in a mesa portion (a region sandwiched between neighboring trenches 102) between neighboring trenches 102.
The trench gate formed of the trench 102, gate insulating film 103, and gate electrode 104 is provided in a stripe form extending in a direction (the longitudinal direction) perpendicular to the direction in which the IGBT portion 121 and FWB portion 122 are aligned (the lateral direction) from the IGBT portion 121 across the FWB portion 122. The p-type anode region 105-2 is provided over the whole of the front surface of the n−-type semiconductor substrate in a mesa portion between neighboring trenches 102 in the FWD portion 122.
The p-type anode region 105-2 is conductively connected to the emitter electrode 109. On the back surface side of the n−-type semiconductor substrate, the p+-type collector region 111 is provided in the IGBT portion 121 and the n+-type cathode region 112 is provided in the FWD portion 122. An n-type buffer layer 110 is provided between the p+-type collector region 111 and n+-type cathode region 112 and the n-type drift region 101. A collector electrode 113 is in contact with the p+-type collector region 111 and n+-type cathode region 112. Reference sign 108 is an interlayer dielectric.
A collector short device wherein a MOS gate structure is repeatedly disposed in a pattern the same as that of a normal IGBT on the front surface of a semiconductor chip, and an FWD portion n+-type cathode region and IGBT portion p+-type collector region are disposed in parallel on the back surface of the semiconductor chip, has been proposed as this kind of RC-IGBT (for example, refer to PTL 2).
Also, a device wherein an IGBT portion acting as an IGBT element and a diode region acting as a diode element are repeatedly, alternately disposed on a semiconductor substrate including an n−-type drift layer, and a p-type Schottky contact region that extracts holes from the n−-type drift layer is provided in a surface layer portion of the n−-type drift layer in a portion of the diode region farthest to the IGBT portion side, has been proposed as another RC-IGBT (for example, refer to PTL 3).
Also, a device of a structure wherein an emitter layer is provided in a first region on a first main surface side of a semiconductor substrate but no emitter layer is provided in a second region, and of a structure wherein a collector layer is provided in a first region on a second main surface side of the semiconductor substrate and a cathode layer is provided in a second region, has been proposed as another RC-IGBT (for example, refer to PTL 4).
Also, a device wherein multiple trench gates are formed at differing intervals on a substrate front surface side of a diode portion, and furthermore, an n-type emitter region and p-type base region are formed between trench gates formed at a shorter interval, has been proposed as another RC-IGBT (for example, refer to PTL 5).
Also, a semiconductor device that is a vertical diode including trenches on a substrate front surface side, wherein the trenches are disposed at differing intervals, and includes two regions, those being a region in which the intervals between trenches in the lateral direction of the trench are long and a region in which the intervals are short, has been proposed as a device including a mesa portion (for example, refer to PTL 6).
Also, the following device has been proposed as another RC-IGBT. Barrier metal is formed using titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), or the like on the surface of an interlayer dielectric and the inner surface of a second trench. An emitter (anode) electrode is in contact with a p-type base (anode) layer, an n-type emitter region, and a p-type contact region via the barrier metal (for example, refer to PTL 7 (Paragraphs 0054 and 0080, FIG. 5)).
Also, the following device has been proposed as another RC-IGBT. A back surface electrode is formed on a second main surface so as to be in contact with both a p-type collector region and an n-type cathode region, and has a titanium layer, a nickel (Ni) layer, and a gold (Au) layer stacked sequentially from the second main surface side. The titanium layer forms ohmic contact to both the p-type collector region and n-type cathode region (for example, refer to PTL 8).
Also, a device wherein IGBT regions and FWD regions are alternately provided adjacent to each other, and which has two kinds of FWD region of differing widths, has been proposed as another RC-IGBT (for example, refer to PTL 9 (Paragraph 0068, FIG. 6)). In PTL 9, by the width of an FWD region acting as a wide region (the distance between two channels sandwiching an FWD region acting as a narrow region) being 170 μm or more, the ratio of a region that does not function as an FWD region is relatively low, and forward voltage snapback is thus restricted.
Also, the following device has been proposed as another RC-IGBT. A floating layer deeper than an emitter region and contact region in a trench depth direction is provided in a p-type base layer of an IGBT portion. No floating layer or emitter region is provided in a diode portion. A gate electrode of the diode portion is of the emitter potential (for example, refer to PTL 10). In PTL 10, excessive hole implantation from the contact region of the IGBT portion to the diode portion is prevented by providing the floating layer.


An LED filament light including a bulb, a support bar, at least two electrode wires and at least two LED filament strips. Each LED filament strip including a base, an LED chip is set on the base and an electrode is fixed at both ends of the base. One end of the electrode is electrically connected with an LED chip on the base, the other end of the electrode is electrically connected with an electrode of another LED filament or electrically connected to one end of the electrode wires so that the support bar is fixed to the bulb, and the other end is connected with at least one. As the support bar is set to replace the existing LED filament light core and metal wire, and creatively the LED filament electrodes directly is connected to each other.

At present, with LED (Light Emitting Diode) chip manufacturing and packaging technology maturity, cost of LED (Light Emitting Diode) components greatly reduce. LED (Light Emitting Diode) has been more and more widely used. In the field of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting field, advantages of saving and long life of LED energy have been fully reflected. More and more users using such as incandescent lamps and other traditional lamps change to LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights, especially the LED (Light Emitting Diode) filament light with the same appearance as traditional incandescent lamp loved by the users. The LED (Light Emitting Diode) filament light appears more and more on market.
However, core of the LED (Light Emitting Diode) filament light appearing on current market is often made of whole set of glass to support a number of LED (Light Emitting Diode) filament strips. In order to form a series or parallel connection between the different LED (Light Emitting Diode) filament strips, it is also necessary to fix one or two of metal wires at top of a stem for electrical connection and be fixed between the LED (Light Emitting Diode) filament strips. However, since the core is a material of glass, it is easy to be broken during production and transportation process, and it is necessary to additionally pour the one or two metal wires in middle of top part so that not only a yield of the stem but also the LED (Light Emitting Diode) filament are low, and increase process steps to reduce production efficiency of product.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A storage device includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, an inter-electrode material layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a voltage application unit applying a predetermined voltage to the first and the second electrodes. Furthermore, an oxidation-reduction active material changeable into an electrode reaction inhibition layer by applying voltages to the first and the second electrodes is contained in a region that is covered by an electric field, the electric field being generated when the voltage is applied, and the electrode reaction inhibition layer is either formed along an interface region between the second electrode and the inter-electrode material layer, or changes an area thereof, or disappears depending on an application condition of the voltage to the first and the second.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage device that is capable of performing a writing, a readout and an erasure of binary data (information) or data with more levels by changing electrical characteristics between two electrodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
In related art, a micro electronic programmable element as shown in FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B) is known as a storage element that may be formed easily with a simple structure (see Japanese Patent Application Publication 2002-536840). This element ionizes, by an application of a predetermined voltage, silver (Ag) contained in an inter-electrode material layer 103 between two electrodes 101 and 102, and forms, by a transfer of the ionized silver, an electron conduction path (channel) 104 that changes an electrical resistance between the above electrodes 101 and 102 to perform a writing of data.
In the element of related art, as a matter of convenience, a state in which a resistance between the two electrodes 101 and 102 before the application of the voltage is high is assumed to be a state in which data "0" is stored, and conversely, a state in which a diffusion of a metal ion toward the facing electrode by the application of the voltage results in a low resistance between the two electrodes 101 and 102 is assumed to be a state in which data "1" is stored, an operation of changing the element from the high resistance state to the low resistance state is referred to as a writing operation, and an operation of restoring the element from the low resistance state to the high resistance state is referred to as an erasure operation.


A chargeback management station obtains data records including asset information pertaining to storage assets in a data storage system and utilization information pertaining to the use of the storage assets by the users, wherein the storage assets include redundant storage assets and internal and external storage assets. The data records further include grouping information reflecting a grouping of the storage assets and the users into charge-related groups. The asset and utilization information is selectively aggregated according to the grouping to obtain respective asset and utilization values for raw capacities, usable capacities, and the internal and external storage assets. The asset and utilization values are displayed in corresponding information fields of a graphical user interface that is presented to a system operator and that reflects the charge-related grouping of the storage assets and the users. The system operator can specify the layout for the charge reports displayed on the graphical interface by using a table screen, a graph screen, and a filter screen.

The invention is related to the field of managing computer data storage systems.
Computer data storage systems have evolved into complex arrangements of specialized elements that are coupled together, such as in a modern storage-area network (SAN). A SAN, for example, includes host computers running application programs with storage requirements, such as for file systems and databases. The SAN further includes dedicated storage devices, often termed "arrays", that are packaged into cabinets and are physically and functionally separate from the host computers. The hosts and storage devices are coupled together by a high-speed data network which includes transmission lines and switches.
Because of the complexity and size of SANs, specialized software tools are used to assist a storage system administrator in managing the configuration and operation of the SAN. An example of such storage management tools includes a suite of tools known as "EMC Control Center" sold by EMC Corporation. These tools include a wide variety of management-related features, including controls that enable a system administrator to configure storage and establish channels between the hosts and respective storage devices allocated for use by the hosts, and include monitoring functions for gathering many types of information about system operation, including for example the amount of allocated storage actually used by the respective hosts, the amount of storage traffic flowing through switches or into/from storage devices, the presence of faults or other reportable conditions in the system, etc.
As with expensive capital assets in general, it is necessary to account for the use of storage systems so that costs are correctly allocated among users having separate budgets, whether the users are from separate companies or are sub-units (e.g. departments) of a single company. In the case of single-company users, the assessing of costs to individual department or other sub-units is referred to as "chargeback". Accounting systems can be used for such chargeback purposes, for example. However, accounting systems are often limited to relatively simple models of system use, which can adversely affect the accuracy of any cost allocation scheme. The actual costs of storage system assets may be much more complex and difficult to model accurately from a cost perspective. It may be exceedingly difficult or impossible to accurately reflect subtle aspects of storage system structure or use in a simple accounting-oriented model, leading to the undesirable possibilities of over-charging as well as under-charging system users.

System and method for generating charge information for users of a data storage system


A system includes a controller. The controller is configured to monitor a catalytic activity within an ASC assembly that converts ammonia (NH3) within a fluid received from a three-way catalyst (TWC) assembly into nitrogen (N2) to determine whether the catalytic activity in the ASC assembly has aged. The controller is configured to adjust a temperature of the fluid flowing into an inlet of the ASC assembly by controlling an amount of oxidant injected via an oxidant injection system into the fluid upstream of the inlet of the ASC assembly based on a determination that the catalytic activity in the ASC assembly has aged.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine and, more specifically, to monitoring a component of the aftertreatment system for catalytic aging or deactivation.
Engines (e.g., internal combustion engines such as reciprocating engines or gas turbines) combust a mixture of fuel and air to generate combustions gases that apply a driving force to a component of the engine (e.g., to move a piston or drive a turbine). Subsequently, the combustion gases exit the engine as an exhaust, which may be subject to aftertreatment systems that include one or more catalytic converters (e.g., three-way catalyst (TWC) assembly, ammonia slippage catalyst (ASC) assembly, etc.) to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX), hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO). However, as some of the catalysts of the catalytic converters age, the effectiveness of the catalysts at reducing emissions may decrease.

Exhaust aftertreatement system with catalytic deactivation monitoring


A process is disclosed for reacting an olefin, hydrogen, and oxygen in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal zeolite and a noble metal to produce a reaction mixture comprising an epoxide and acidic byproducts. A portion of the reaction mixture is contacted with an adsorbent so that a treated mixture having a reduced amount of byproducts is produced. The treated mixture is recycled back to the reactor. Including an adsorption step should improve the catalyst productivity and epoxide selectivity.

Many different methods for the preparation of epoxides have been developed. Commercially, propylene oxide is produced by the chlorohydrin process or hydroperoxidation (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,351,635 and 4,367,342; EP 0 345 856). Unfortunately, both processes have disadvantages. The chlorohydrin process suffers from the production of a dilute salt stream. The hydroperoxidation process, in which propylene is oxidized with an organic hydroperoxide such as ethylbenzene hydroperoxide or tert-butyl hydroperoxide, produces organic co-products such as t-butyl alcohol or styrene, whose value must be captured in the market place. Ethylene oxide is commercially produced by the direct oxidation of ethylene with oxygen over a silver catalyst. Unfortunately, efforts to epoxidize higher olefins (olefins containing three or more carbons) such as propylene with oxygen in the presence of a silver catalyst have failed to produce a commercial process (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,856,534, 5,780,657 and 4,994,589).
Recent efforts have focused on the direct epoxidation of higher olefins with oxygen and hydrogen. For example, the reaction may be performed in the presence of a catalyst comprising gold and a titanium-containing carrier (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,623,090, 6,362,349, and 6,646,142), or a catalyst containing palladium and a titanium zeolite (see, e.g., JP 4-352771).
Mixed catalyst systems for olefin epoxidation with hydrogen and oxygen have also been disclosed. For example, Example 13 of JP 4-352771 describes the use of a mixture of titanosilicate and Pd-on-carbon for propylene epoxidation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,388 describes a catalyst comprising a noble metal and a titanium or vanadium zeolite, but additionally teaches that the Pd can be incorporated into a carrier before mixing with the zeolite. The catalyst carriers disclosed include silica, alumina, and activated carbon.
Unfortunately, undesirable reactions also occur in these epoxidation processes. For example, the produced epoxide tends to react with solvents (e.g., water, methanol) to form glycols and/or glycol ethers. These side reactions are catalyzed by acids, which are formed as byproducts during the epoxidation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,259 discloses the epoxidation of an olefin with hydrogen and oxygen in a solvent containing a buffer in the presence of a catalyst mixture containing a titanium zeolite and a noble metal catalyst. Although a buffer can reduce the formation of the byproducts, it tends to complicate product purification. For example, a buffer can cause the fouling of distillation columns due to salt formation.
In sum, new processes for olefin epoxidation with reduced byproduct formation are needed.


An object type translator (OTT) determines one or more database object types. The one or more database object types are mapped to a first structural language type definition code. After being generated, the user may add user code to the first structural language type definition code. During regeneration of these files, the first structural language type definition code is then parsed to determine the user code that has been added, based on the start and end markers that the user code segments have been marked with. OTT maps these user-code segments to the corresponding database types and keeps track of the mapping and the user code. When the OTT starts generating the second structural language code, the OTT determines a position where the user code should be inserted into the second structural language type definition code using that mapping. The user code is then inserted in the second structural language code in the position determined. Accordingly, the user code that was added is not lost when the structural language type definition code is regenerated from the one or more database object types.

The present invention generally relates to databases and more specifically to an object type translator that preserves user code in structural language type definitions.
An object type translator (OTT) is used to translate database object types to structural language type definitions. For example, the OTT maps database object types to C structs and C++ class definitions. The C structs and C++ class definitions are used by the application developers in the respective host languages.
Typically, OTT for C++ generates the class definitions which have the attributes, basic accessor methods and some methods for internal use by the database interface libraries. In some cases, applications may need some additional attributes and methods for the classes that are meant for use only in the application space and should not to be persistent in the database. (e.g., some static data members, additional constructors/methods, etc.). In such cases, a user may add code in the OTT generated files. When there are changes to the server side object types or when some enhancements happen to the database interface library, the C struct or C++ class definition files need to be regenerated to reflect these changes. Typically, when the OTT is rerun, the files are generated afresh, without preserving the user-added code. Hence, the users had to manually add the code to the generated files everytime they are regenerated.
The above process includes many disadvantages. For example, the user must manually add the user code already added to the previously generated files after the files are overwritten. This is inefficient and time is lost in adding the user code that was previously added.

Preserving user code in OTT-generated classes


An EDM machine for machining a workpiece is disclosed. The EDM machine includes a machine frame having a central stationary machine body and a machining electrode to machine the workpiece. Machining occurs by producing a relative movement in at least one of an X axial direction and a Y axial direction between the machining electrode and the workpiece. The machine also includes a first axial slide for moving at least one of the workpiece and the machining electrode in the X axial direction, and a second axial slide for moving at least one of the machining electrode and the workpiece in the Y axial direction. The first axial slide is mounted in a substantially vertical plane on the machine body for lateral movement in a substantially horizontal direction.

The invention relates generally to EDM machines such as erosive cutting machines and die-sinking machines, and, more particularly, to axial arrangement of such machines, as well as a set of modules for assembly of machine tools.
EDM machines are widespread, for example, in the form of erosive cutting machines and die-sinking machines. In such machines, a machining tool in the form of a wire electrode or cavity sinking electrode is moved relative to a workpiece clamped on a tool board in order to produce an electrical spark discharge between the machining electrode and the workpiece. Such machines include a machine frame with drive kinematics to produce the relative displacement between the workpiece and machining electrode that determines the machining contour, a tool table with appropriate means of clamping to accept one or more workpieces, a generator, a CNC control, as well as devices to rinse the working gap and to process any employed working fluid.
Machine tools, and especially EDM machines, can be used in a variety of ways. Therefore, different designs have been developed over time. Such designs depend on the corresponding requirements, like selling price, maintenance costs, workpiece size and maximum travel, quality, productivity, flexibility and automatability, space requirements, operating comfort, etc. The emphasis in the development of the machine tool can therefore be completely disparate. Such requirements are often at variance, like space requirements of the machine, on the one hand, and maximum admissible workpiece size, on the other. It would be desirable, precisely in the last-named case, to have the most compact design possible, but nevertheless a capability of also machining larger workpieces . These requirements are only met to a limited degree in the designs of EDM machines known thus far.
For example, most available erosive cutting machines have a C-machine frame or a bridge frame. An example of an erosive cutting machine is the C-frame design described in DE 35 24 377 A1 of the applicant. The C-frame is constructed from several blocks, namely, a machine bed, a column and a machine head. The wire electrode is tightened in the working space of the machine between an upper and lower wire guide head and moved relative to the workpiece in an X/Y main axial plane. Different axial arrangements are indicated for this purpose. The main axial movement in the X/Y direction is conducted with a coupled X/Y crosstable, which moves either the work table, the column of the machine frame, or the head of the machine frame in the X/Y main axial directions.
In an erosive cutting machine of the bridge design, the machine frame includes a machine bed and a closed bridge-like column arranged on it. A worktable, together with work tank, is displaceably mounted on the machine bed in a main axial direction, (for example, the Y direction). The X advance movement of the wire electrode is decoupled from it and produced by an X-slide, which can be displaced horizontally on the cross-rail of the bridge column above the work space. This type of bridge machine is suitable for machining large workpieces. However, it also requires correspondingly large set-up space. The work space of the machine is also only marginally accessible, because of the closed design, and therefore only suitable with limitations for integration of automation devices.
Another machine for an erosive cutting machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,165, in which the X/Y main axial slides are arranged independently of each other, in similar fashion to the bridge design. The machine frame is constructed in the fashion of a C-frame with a machine bed and a vertical column fastened to it. An X-slide is displaceably arranged in a horizontal plane on the machine bed on which the tool table and work tank sit. The workpiece is, therefore, only moveable in the X direction. A Y-slide, to which the upper and lower wire guide head is coupled, is arranged directly on the machine column and moves only the wire electrode in the Y direction. Another crosstable system (so-called U/V crosstable) arranged directly on the upper wire guide head permits relative deflection of the upper wire guide head relative to the lower one. A Z-drive for the upper wire guide head is additionally provided.
A shortcoming in this design and in the aforementioned C-frame design is that the machine frame, assembled from several parts (e.g., the machine bed, the column, and, optionally, the machine head), does not possess sufficient intrinsic rigidity in the so-called two-or multiblock design with high accuracy requirements. Consequently, the set-up location of the machine must satisfy increased requirements on floor rigidity. For example, the machine column and the machine bed must be provided with multiple supports on the floor. Set up and alignment of such a machine is very demanding. In particular, installation of different components of the machine frame must occur very carefully, so that the orthogonality of the axial movement is fulfilled.
A three-axis cutting machine, in which the X- and Y-slides are moveable independently of each other, is also shown in the journal xe2x80x9cWerkzeug and Formenbauxe2x80x9d, February 1999, page 30. The X-slide is also laterally displaceably arranged on the machine frame in the fashion of a console, and the Y-slide, equipped with a Z-drive, is arranged on the top of the machine frame. However, details concerning the design of the machine frame are not disclosed. Nor is there any indication in the direction of an EDM machine.

Electric discharge machine and module set for assembly of machine tools


A flossing device for flossing the teeth as part of a dental care program. The device includes a central arch made up of two legs connected by a central segment. A length of floss is secured to the free ends of the legs. Two rings sized to fit over finger tips are secured to the outside of each arch leg. Two fingers are inserted into the rings so that the floss can be brought into well controlled contact with teeth interstices. The rings may be metal rings embedded in or bonded to the arch or may be plastic rings with the arch and rings molded as a unitary structure. With plastic rings, the rings may be circumferentially divided so as to be expandable to fit larger finger tips.

Flossing, in which a strand of dental floss is moved into and around the space between adjacent teeth has long been recommended by dentists. Conventionally, a strand of floss is wrapped around the middle of each hand, providing a short tensioned length of floss between the fingers. The fingers and floss are inserted into the mouth and the floss is guided between pairs of adjacent teeth.
In order to maintain the floss in position around the fingers and the proper tension on the inter finger strand, the floss must be wrapped tightly around the fingers. The tight wrap of =very thin floss tends to dig into the fingers and become rapidly painful, often limiting the time and care spent in flossing.
Many people find that manipulating the floss while maintaining tension and moving from tooth to tooth while looking at a reverse mirror image to be very difficult. Further the normal gag reflex can be easily triggered while flossing the back molars and touching the palate, much to the user's discomfort.
A number of different flossing devices have been developed in attempts to overcome these problems inherent in manual flossing. Zuehlsdorf in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,510 discloses a generally U-shaped device in which floss is secured across the ends of the "U" legs and a finger is inserted between the legs. While effective with the front teeth, attempts to floss molars will be difficult since the device can easily rotate about the single finger and not correctly position the floss for entry between adjacent teeth.
Wang describes a flossing system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,168 in which two thimble-like members are fitted over two finger tips and floss is wrapped around the two members. While this arrangement avoids the sometimes painful direct wrapping of floss around the fingertips, it has the other problems of the manual fingertip approach. Adjusting the floss length is difficult and slipping of floss on the two members is likely. In addition, two widely spaced fingers must be inserted into the mouth and manipulated.
A large, flexible U-shaped device having floss extending around the "U" and across the space between the ends of the legs is described by Yafai in U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,246. While the endless loop of floss eliminates the risk of floss slipping off of a winding, such as around a finger tip, it the "U" legs are squeezed together at all the floss will fall off the leg ends. Further, the size of the device is such that flossing the back molars will be difficult.
Long lengths of floss secured to widely spaced rings (Trecker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,770) or widely spaced tubes (Wei et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,710 may help prevent slipping of the floss ends in use, but still require manual manipulation of the floss, guided by finger tips.
Other flossing devices, such as that described by Peng in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,843 have a plastic body with projections to the ends of which a length of floss is permanently fastened. This type of device is easily manipulated by one hand. However, because of the lever action between the gripping point and the flossing point, twisting and bending of the device cannot be easily prevented with a single hand holding an extension on the device and the necessary force and movement of the floss between tightly spaced teeth is difficult and require considerable dexterity.
Thus, there is a continuing need for flossing devices that provide more effective flossing, are simpler to manipulate, can be accurately moved along the back molars and the floss inserted between tightly spaced teeth and is inexpensive to manufacture.


A system and method for providing an image to an information handling system is disclosed. A method for delivering an image may include booting an information handling system with a provisioning operating system downloaded via a network into a memory of the information handling system. The method may also include calculating, by the second provisioning OS, a fingerprint of an image stored on the information handling system. The method may additionally include determining if the fingerprint matches a previously-calculated fingerprint of the image calculated prior to delivery of the information handling system to its intended destination. The method may further include enabling the information handling system to boot from a storage resource of the information handling system in response to a determination that the fingerprint matches the previously-calculated fingerprint.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
With recent advances in network technology and improved affordability of networking devices, information handling system users and business are increasingly implementing networks and systems (e.g., local areas networks or LANs) that utilize wireless transmissions (e.g., wireless fidelity or "Wi-Fi") and wire-line transmissions in more than one location or in a home without the direct support of an Information Technology (IT) organization. For example, users may implement a home or business network including an information handling system and a wireless access point communicatively coupled to the information handling system. Such a network may allow an information handling system (or a user thereof) to communicate with the one or more network devices via the wireless access point or vice versa.
However, due to the increasing need to supply remote offices, home offices, and sites with a large workforce with information handling systems without the direct support of Information Technology (IT) professionals, an efficient and secure method for configuring the information handling systems is needed. While image installation and setup for experienced users has been greatly simplified with setup wizards and advances in usability features included in operating systems, there is still a need to ensure employees receive the information handling system and network configuration supported by the main office. Certain configurations are often required to ensure secure access to the main office network and to protect proprietary information. In addition, due to the size of the files, downloads of large secure files such as these within a network often restrict the bandwidth available for other users.
Accordingly, a need has arisen for secure systems and methods that allow configuration of factory delivered information handling systems without an on-site Information Technology (IT) professional.

System and method for providing an image to an information handling system


A photoaligned quantum rod enhancement film (QREF) includes: a substrate (802, 805); a photoalignment layer deposited on the substrate (802, 805); and a polymer layer deposited on the photoalignment layer, the polymer layer comprises a plurality of quantum rods, the plurality of quantum rods are configured to emit one or more wavelengths of light in response to pumping light, and are aligned to an alignment axis based on the photoalignment layer.

Quantum dot enhancement films (QDEFs), which are engineered sheets containing quantum dots, have become very popular in modern liquid crystal displays (LCDs) to provide an extended color gamut. The color gamut for modern LCDs equipped with QDEFs can go from 60-70% of the color triangle to greater than 100% of the color triangle, which is a big achievement. These sheets are widely used in displays for TVs, tablets and more. It is also reported that quantum dot displays are brighter and use less energy than other high-performance display technologies such as organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. However, for existing LCDs, the overall optical efficiency is still limited to 3-5%. Color filters and polarizers typically cause light losses of ˜70% and ˜60% respectively. To reduce or eliminate losses associated with the color filters, attempts have been made to use the concept of field sequential color display.
Recently, it has been established that semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) with a specific energy band gap, depending on the size of the particle, emit light with very pure color. Further, if the aspect ratio of QDs is increased above 1 (e.g., above 1.2), the QDs emits polarized light. The rod-shaped QDs, which are also known as quantum rods (QRs), emit polarized light that can be used to increase the efficiency of polarizers of LCDs and photonics devices. QRs are tuned to create better color by changing their size during fabrication to emit light at just the right wavelengths and give excellent color purity like QDs.
It is also expected that the aligned QR emits polarized light that can be used to improve the polarization efficiency of the modern LCDs. However, to ensure the macroscopic linear polarization of emission in thin films, QRs have to be assembled into parallel arrays. QR alignment is not an easy goal, and becomes even more difficult when a larger scale alignment for an LCD panel is considered. Examples of techniques that have been used to align QRs include: evaporation-mediated assembly electric field, template-assisted assembly and chemical bonding-directed self-assembly, among others. These methods specifically target for the long-range order of QRs, by using an external force to drive their alignment. However, most of these approaches offer very limited flexibility in the local alignment orientation, which reduces their prospects regarding large scale fabrication of LCDs.

Photoaligned quantum rod enhancement films

THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


To render content on a medium, a device obtains a table from the medium, obtains a private key of the device (PR-PD), indexes into an entry of the table based thereon, obtains (PU-PD(RND)) from the indexed-into entry of the table, and applies (PR-PD) to (PU-PD(RND)) to expose a random key (RND). Then, the device obtains (RND(PR-PM)) from the table, applies (RND) to (RND(PR-PM)) to expose a private key of the medium (PR-PM), obtains (PU-PM(KD)) from the license, applies (PR-PM) to (PU-PM(KD)) to expose a content key (KD), obtains (KD(content)) from the storage medium, applies (KD) to (KD(content)) to expose the content.

As is known, and referring now to FIG. 1, digital rights management (DRM) and enforcement system is highly desirable in connection with digital content 12 such as digital audio, digital video, digital text, digital data, digital multimedia, etc., where such digital content 12 is to be distributed to users. Upon being received by the user, such user renders or 'plays' the digital content with the aid of an appropriate rendering device such as a media player on a personal computer 14 or the like.
Typically, a content owner distributing such digital content 12 wishes to restrict what the user can do with such distributed digital content 12. For example, the content owner may wish to restrict the user from copying and re-distributing such content 12 to a second user, or may wish to allow distributed digital content 12 to be played only a limited number of times, only for a certain total time, only on a certain type of machine, only on a certain type of media player, only by a certain type of user, etc.
However, after distribution has occurred, such content owner has very little if any control over the digital content 12. A DRM system 10, then, allows the controlled rendering or playing of arbitrary forms of digital content 12, where such control is flexible and definable by the content owner of such digital content. Typically, content 12 is distributed to the user in the form of a package 13 by way of any appropriate distribution channel. The digital content package 13 as distributed may include the digital content 12 encrypted with a symmetric encryption/decryption key (KD), (i.e., (KD(CONTENT))), as well as other information identifying the content, how to acquire a license for such content, etc.
The trust-based DRM system 10 allows an owner of digital content 12 to specify license rules that must be satisfied before such digital content 12 is allowed to be rendered on a user's computing device 14. Such license rules can include the aforementioned temporal requirement, and may be embodied within a digital license 16 that the user/user's computing device 14 (hereinafter, such terms are interchangeable unless circumstances require otherwise) must obtain from the content owner or an agent thereof. Such license 16 also includes the decryption key (KD) for decrypting the digital content, perhaps encrypted according to a key decryptable by the user's computing device.
The content owner for a piece of digital content 12 must trust that the user's computing device 14 will abide by the rules and requirements specified by such content owner in the license 16, i.e. that the digital content 12 will not be rendered unless the rules and requirements within the license 16 are satisfied. Preferably, then, the user's computing device 14 is provided with a trusted component or mechanism 18 that will not render the digital content 12 except according to the license rules embodied in the license 16 associated with the digital content 12 and obtained by the user.
The trusted component 18 typically has a license evaluator 20 that determines whether the license 16 is valid, reviews the license rules and requirements in such valid license 16, and determines based on the reviewed license rules and requirements whether the requesting user has the right to render the requested digital content 12 in the manner sought, among other things. As should be understood, the license evaluator 20 is trusted in the DRM system 10 to carry out the wishes of the owner of the digital content 12 according to the rules and requirements in the license 16, and the user should not be able to easily alter such trusted element for any purpose, nefarious or otherwise.
As should be understood, the rules and requirements in the license 16 can specify whether the user has rights to render the digital content 12 based on any of several factors, including who the user is, where the user is located, what type of computing device the user is using, what rendering application is calling the DRM system, the date, the time, etc. In addition, the rules and requirements of the license 16 may limit the license 16 to a pre-determined number of plays, or pre-determined play time, for example.
The rules and requirements may be specified in the license 16 according to any appropriate language and syntax. For example, the language may simply specify attributes and values that must be satisfied (DATE must be later than X, e.g.), or may require the performance of functions according to a specified script (IF DATE greater than X, THEN DO . . . , e.g.).
Upon the license evaluator 20 determining that the license 16 is valid and that the user satisfies the rules and requirements therein, the digital content 12 can then be rendered. In particular, to render the content 12, the decryption key (KD) is obtained from the license 12 and is applied to (KD(CONTENT)) from the content package 13 to result in the actual content 12, and the actual content 12 is then in fact rendered.
In a DRM system 10, content 12 is packaged for use by a user by encrypting such content 12 and associating a license 16 having a set of rules with the content 12, whereby the content 12 can be rendered only in accordance with the rules in the license 16. Because the content 12 requires the license 16 for access thereto, then, the content 12 may be freely distributed. Significantly, both the content 12 and the license 16 must be communicated to the computing device 14. Moreover, in preparing at least the license 16 for the computing device 14, information about the device 14 including cryptographic keys used thereby is normally provided to the licensor. However, and importantly, some devices 14, such as for example a portable player or a portable data assistant, can communicate with the external world in only a rudimentary manner, and therefore cannot normally be expected to participate in any substantial way to obtain the content 12 or the license 16. Accordingly, a need exists for a method and mechanism that allows the DRM system 10 to encompass a computing device 14 that perhaps cannot interact with other elements over a communications link for purposes of obtaining the content 12 and license 16. More particularly, a need exists for a version of a DRM system 10 that allows for encryption and data-protection for content on a portable medium that is introduced to the computing device 14, even though the device 14 perhaps does not have the capability to communicate with a remote entity over a network connection or the like, but can perform asymmetric key decryption.

Digital rights management (DRM) encryption and data-protection for content on device without interactive authentication


The invention relates to a method for cleaning returnable beverage bottles, particularly plastic bottles comprising the following steps: pre-treating the bottles with a concentrated cleaning formulation comprising more than about 0.5% by weight of an alkaline agent, followed by removing the cleaning formulation and soil in one or more subsequent stages.

Recently, glass bottles have been gradually replaced by PET bottles, particularly for the sale of soft drinks, for the following reasons. The sale of soft drinks offers the manufacturer the advantage of higher volumes per unit sold. Furthermore, the consumer is offered the convenience of higher volumes of product per unit weight.
Where the infrastructure exists to apply the process of returning, cleaning and reusing PET-bottles, there is the additional possibility of cost saving.
Systems for glass bottle washing are mature and with the gradual replacement of glass by PET, the tendency has been to clean PET bottles by the same process. Although current systems achieve effective results, the process is far from optimal.
Generally, the cleaning of the bottles occurs immediately before refilling, thus minimizing the risk of resoiling and infection. Cleaning is effectively carried out in an industrial bottle washer which typically can handle from 5000 to 100,000 bottles per hour, depending on the machine capacity.
The conventional cleaning solution usually contains about 1% by weight of sodium hydroxide and an antifoam agent and is applied at a temperature of about 60.degree. C. It is often applied by way of a soaking stage followed by a spray stage, prior to rinsing, or else by just spraying before rinsing.
Since the bottle cleaning process occurs immediately before filling of the bottles in a continuous feed process, this cleaning process could be considered to constitute an intrinsic part of the bottling process.
The conventional bottle cleaning process usually takes about 25 minutes per bottle. It would be commercially highly attractive if this cleaning time could be reduced while retaining good cleaning performance.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of cleaning returnable bottles, particularly PET bottles, which takes less time than the known methods of the prior art but gives substantially equal cleaning performance.

Method for washing plastic returnable beverage bottles with alkaline solution and ultrasonic energy


The present invention is directed to a method and system of memory management that features dual buffer rings, each of which includes descriptors identifying addresses of a memory space, referred to as buffers, in which portions of data packets are stored. Typically, the header segment of each data packet is stored at a first set of a plurality of buffers, and the portion of the payload segment that does not fit among the buffers of the first set is stored in the buffers of a second set. In this manner, the size of the individual buffers associated with the first buffer rings may be kept to the smallest size of useable storage space, and the buffers corresponding to the second buffer ring may be arbitrary in size.

A substantial portion of computer systems communicate over networks using transmission of data in packetized format at very high data rates. A common network communication protocol is known as the Ethernet and transmits data packets between different computer systems at rates of 1 Gbit/second or more.
Upon receipt of a data packet a computer system typically stores the data in a packet buffer before the data is provided to the computer processes for which the data is intended. Once the data is provided to the intended processes, the packet buffer in which the data was stored are freed to accept additional data. Often, the rate at which data is received is different from the rate at which the computer system frees packet buffers to accept additional data, which may result in buffer overflow. Many attempts have been undertaken to avoid buffer overflow while avoiding use of excessive amounts of buffer memory.
In one attempt, a packet receiving-transmitting method for use on a packet-switching network, such as the Ethernet, stores each received packet in a packet buffer of a fixed size and associated with a single descriptor. Based on a threshold logical segmentation size determined by the network protocol, each packet buffer is partitioned into a plurality of segments, each having an ending point linked to an Early Receive/Transmit interrupt signal with the ending point of the packet buffer being linked to an OK interrupt signal. In response to each Early Receive/Transmit interrupt signal, the packet data stored are retrieved and forwarded; and in response to the OK interrupt signal, all the remaining packet data in the packet buffer are retrieved and forwarded. After this, a write-back operation is performed on the associated descriptor so as to reset the descriptor to unused status.
Thus, there is a need to improve management of memory used to receive data packets.

Memory buffer management method and system having multiple receive ring buffers


Techniques for searching a program guide database. In accordance with a method, one or more search criteria (e.g., keywords) are received and a request for a search is then sent, along with the search criteria, to a head end of an information distribution system. In response, one or more search results are received from the head end. In this server-centric system, the program guide database is searched at the head end. The search results can be displayed on one search result IPG page (or more, if necessary) or displayed one at a time on the respective IPG page that includes the search result. Upon receiving an indication that a particular search result has been selected, one or more streams associated with the selected search result can be retrieved and decoded to recover the selected program, which can then be displayed.

The invention relates to communications systems in general. More specifically, the invention relates to a server-centric search function in an interactive program guide.
Over the past few years, the television industry has seen a transformation in a variety of techniques by which its programming is distributed to consumers. Cable television systems are doubling or even tripling system bandwidth with the migration to hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable plant. Customers unwilling to subscribe to local cable systems have switched in high numbers to direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems. And, a variety of other approaches have been attempted focusing primarily on high bandwidth digital technologies, intelligent two way set top terminals, or other methods of trying to offer service differentiated from standard cable and over the air broadcast systems.
With this increase in bandwidth, the number of programming choices has also increased. Leveraging off the availability of more intelligent set top terminals, several companies such as Starsight Telecast Inc. and TV Guide, Inc. have developed elaborate systems for providing an interactive listing of a vast array of channel offerings, expanded textual information about individual programs, and the ability to look forward to plan television viewing as much as several weeks in advance.
With this increase in the number of programming, it is oftentimes cumbersome for a viewer to find a desired program in a guide considering, for example, two weeks of programming with 200 channels. In order to provide ease of viewing, some of the existing program guides offer customization feature such as pop-up guides or favorites selection so that program guides can be viewed or scanned through only the selected favorite list of channels.
However, in order to provide the viewer with quick access to programming and to help the viewer to more easily locate a program in an unknown channel at an unknown time period, more comprehensive features are highly desirable.

Server-centric search function in an interactive program guide


A U-bend pipe spacer for separating vertical portions of a U-bend pipe in a bore in the ground during installation of the U-bend pipe in a geothermal vertical heat exchanger system. The U-bend pipe spacer includes a biasing member with a pair of elongate portions having free ends biased apart from one another. The elongate portions of the biasing member is resiliently deflectable from a relaxed position to a deflected portion such that the free ends of the elongate portions of the biasing member are positioned closer to each other when the elongate portions are in the deflected position. The spacer also includes a pair of clip members each comprising a body having a concave arcuate side face defining a channel and a tremie hook is coupled to the body. The tremie hook has a concave side. The body of a first of the clip members is coupled to the free end of a first of the elongate portions of the biasing member and the body of a second of the clip members is coupled to the free end of a second of the elongate portions of the biasing member with the channels of the clip members facing outwardly away from each other. The channel of the body of the first clip member is designed for receiving a first elongate portion of a U-bend pipe therein and the channel of the body of the second clip member is designed for receiving a second elongate portion of the U-bend pipe therein. The bodies of the clip members are positioned adjacent each other when the elongate portions of the biasing member are positioned in the deflected position. In this deflected position, the tremie hooks of the clip members overlap each other so that the concave sides of the tremie hooks face one another and define a tremie space therebetween for extending a tremie pipe therethrough which holds the elongate portions of the biasing member in the deflected position as long as the tremie pipe is in the tremie space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to geothermal vertical heat exchanger systems and more particularly pertains to a new U-bend pipe spacer for separating vertical portions of a U-bend pipe in a bore in the ground during installation of the U-bend pipe in a geothermal vertical heat exchanger system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The purpose of a geothermal heat exchanger is to exchange energy with the Earth by circular a water/antifreeze solution through plastic pipe that is buried below the Earth's surface. In one type of geothermal heat exchanger, the installation procedure first requires the drilling of a vertical bore into the ground. Next, a U-bend fitting is fused onto the lower ends of two polyethylene plastic pipes to form a U-bend pipe which is then inserted into the bore. A grout such as a 20% bentonite grout is pumped into the bore via a pipe (called a tremie) inserted into the bore.
The bentonite grout that is used to fill the bore acts as an insulator by impairing heat transfer between the elongate portions of the U-bend pipe and the surrounding soil. The insulating effect of the ground thereby requires longer bore lengths. Using a higher thermal conductivity grout material helps to eliminate this insulating effect. However, most States mandate grouting with bentonite to ensure that the bore is sealed tight to prevent contaminated from entering aquifers below the ground surface. Thermally enhanced bentonite grouts are becoming available but are costly and labor intensive to use.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,429; U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,229; U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,229; U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,715; U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,059;U.S. Pat. No. 2,554,661; U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,016; U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,374; U.S. Pat. No. 388,439; U.S. Pat. No. 447,297; U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,477; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,786.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new U-bend pipe spacer. The inventive device includes a biasing member with a pair of elongate portions having free ends biased apart from one another. The elongate portions of the biasing member is resiliently deflectable from a relaxed position to a deflected portion such that the free ends of the elongate portions of the biasing member are positioned closer to each other when the elongate portions are in the deflected position. The spacer also includes a pair of clip members each comprising a body having a concave arcuate side face defining a channel and a tremie hook is coupled to the body. The tremie hook has a concave side. The body of a first of the clip members is coupled to the free end of a first of the elongate portions of the biasing member and the body of a second of the clip members is coupled to the free end of a second of the elongate portions of the biasing member with the channels of the clip members facing outwardly away from each other. The channel of the body of the first clip member is designed for receiving a first elongate portion of a U-bend pipe therein and the channel of the body of the second clip member is designed for receiving a second elongate portion of the U-bend pipe therein. The bodies of the clip members are positioned adjacent each other when the elongate portions of the biasing member are positioned in the deflected position. In this deflected position, the tremie hooks of the clip members overlap each other so that the concave sides of the tremie hooks face one another and define a tremie space therebetween for extending a tremie pipe therethrough which holds the elongate portions of the biasing member in the deflected position as long as the tremie pipe is in the tremie space.
In these respects, the U-bend pipe spacer according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of separating vertical portions of a U-bend pipe in a bore in the ground during installation of the U-bend pipe in a geothermal vertical heat exchanger system.


A slide rail assembly for providing adjustable positions for fifth wheel hitches including a slide rail having feet extending downward from the underside of the slide rail, adjacent feet being separated by a detent for receiving a slide locking mechanism, each of the feet having a recesses located at the bottom inside corner of each foot, respecting the assembly. The slide rail also comprises teeth with gaps therebetween, where the gaps are vertically aligned with the recesses.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to fifth wheel hitches for coupling trailers to tractor trucks, and, in particular, fifth wheel hitches having adjustable positions, and further, to slide rail assemblies for fifth wheel hitches.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fifth wheel hitches for towing a trailer behind a towing vehicle have long been known in the art. Examples of fifth wheel hitches include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,721,323, 5,449,191, and 5,707,070.
Large over-the-road freight trailers are usually coupled to trucks by means of a fifth wheel assembly whereby the truck rear drive axles directly support a portion of the trailer load burden. Usually, the fifth wheel couple and support point is located along the length of the tractor between the rear drive wheels and the front steering wheels thereby distributing the front trailer load. It is desirable for the fifth wheel coupling to be adjustable in the longitudinal position with respect to the truck to aid in control over distribution of the load.
Typically, a fifth wheel hitch includes a support frame for mounting the hitch to the towing vehicle, such as, for example, to a tractor truck. This support frame includes a pair of base rails that are bolted to the bed and/or frame of the truck, side brackets that are releasably mounted to the base rails and a head support mounted to the side brackets. A head assembly is mounted to the head support by means of a trunnion arrangement allowing for pivotal fore-and-aft movement. The head assembly includes a jaw assembly specifically adapted to releasably engage and hold a kingpin of a trailer desired to be towed by the towing vehicle.
Fifth wheel hitches tend to be adjustable axially with respect to the tractor frame. One way of achieving this feature is attach slide rails to the support frame of the hitch and configure a pedestal, upon which the head assembly is pivotally mounted, to slidably engage the slide rails. The conventional design of these slide rails is nothing more than a flange extending inward of the slide assembly which may be angled metal. The rail is mounted to the support frame by fillet welding and by bolts.
However, the flange-type slide rail, since it is a single layer of material, provides only limited support to resist any upward loads. Further, the welding done to attach the rail to the support frame is time consuming, in addition to providing only a relatively weak attachment. Therefore, a need is identified for a slide to provide increased resistance to upward tending loads. A further need exists for such a slide rail to be manufactured in a reduced amount of time, but with greater strength of attachment to its support frame.

Fifth wheel slide rail and related method of assembly


An integrated circuit comprising a CPU coupled to a system bus, a network interface configured to interface with an external device, and a crypto neuromorphic core coupled to the system bus. The cryptographic core comprising a processor or core, an internal bus, and a non-transitory computer-readable memory, wherein the crypto neuromorphic core is isolated from the CPU and the network interface via the system bus and the crypto neuromorphic core runs its own operating system. The crypto neuromorphic core is configured to: contain a secure core comprising a secure processor and dedicated/protected memory; store a private key in the dedicated/protected memory accessible to the secure core but not accessible to other components of the crypto neuromorphic core, the central processing unit, and the network interface; add data to a blockchain using the private key via the network interface; and read data from the blockchain via the network interface.

Distributed ledger technology (DLT) (e.g., blockchains, directed acyclic graphs (DAGs)) use asymmetric cryptography to identify account holders and sign transactions that are added to a distributed ledger (e.g., a linked list of data blocks). For example, a transaction moving tokens out of a blockchain wallet can be signed with the private key associated with that wallet. Others can verify that transaction using the corresponding public key associated with the wallet. Currently, private keys can be stored in software wallets (e.g., online on a cloud or on local memory of a device) which may not be secure because they are susceptible to hacking over the Internet. Private keys can also be stored in hardware wallets (e.g., on a USB device), which are more secure because the private keys are stored offline (e.g., are note accessible over the Internet). Hardware wallets are typically a cold-storage type USB where the private keys are stored in a protected area within a microcontroller. Hardware wallets are less susceptible to viruses and malware than software wallets. Many hardware wallets also require a manual user authentication (e.g., entry of a pin or passcode) or manufacturer validation (e.g., release open-source software for users to validate the device operation), but unauthorized persons can still access hardware wallets if they learn the corresponding pin or passcode. While hardware wallets are more secure than software wallets, typical hardware wallets must be plugged in via a USB port, which many Internet of Things (IoT) devices (e.g., smartphones, smart wearable devices, vehicles, home appliances, smart city equipment, or any device with embedded Internet connectivity that can communicate and/or share data over the Internet) may not support (e.g., a parking meter, a soda machine). It can also be impractical for some IoT devices such as ceiling fans or drones to have an external USB drive plugged into it during operation. Moreover, the pin to access a wallet can be intercepted when remotely interacting with an IoT device.


A printer has a shift register, an emission-time setting section, a laser diode, and a drive section. The register supplies the emission-time setting section with bits representing consecutive pixels including at least one black pixel. The emission-time setting section determines the period of time during which the drive section is to drive the laser diode, from the pixel patterns represented by the bits supplied from the register, and outputs an emission-time signal which represents said period of time. In response to the emission-time signal, the drive section drives the laser diode for the period of time, whereby a black pixel of a desired size is formed on a printing medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of printing an image formed of 2-dimensionally arranged pixels, and also to a printer such as an electronic photography apparatus or a thermal printer, which is designed to print an image formed of 2-dimensionally arranged pixels.
2. Description of the Related Art
A laser printer comprises a photosensitive member and a laser diode. The laser diode is driven in accordance with input image, thus emitting a laser beam to the photosensitive member. The surface of the photosensitive member is thereby scanned with the laser beam.
An item of the image data, which represents a pixel, is a signal S1 having the waveform shown in FIG. 1. As is evident from FIG. 1, the signal S1 is at either a high (H) level or a low (L) level for a period T.sub.1 during which the photosensitive member is scanned to form the pixel on its surface. The laser diode is driven by a drive signal S2, which has the same wave form as the image data signal S1 as is illustrated in FIG. 1. Hence, the laser diode emits a laser beam for the period T.sub.1, to form a pixel on the photosensitive member.
The electric resistance at the surface of the photosensitive member changes with the amount of light applied to the member. The electric charge of the surface of the member attenuates in accordance with the time the member is exposed to light. Hence, when the laser diode is driven by the signal S2 (FIG. 1) and emits a laser beam to the photosensitive member for the period T.sub.1, a circular pixel will be formed on the member, which circumscribes a square one-pixel region as is shown at (a) in FIG. 2.
When driven by two or more consecutive drive signals S2, the laser diode continuously emits a laser beam to the photosensitive member, thereby forming pixels which overlap one another as is shown at (b) in FIG. 2. As can be understood from FIG. 2, these overlapping pixels form a true black image since there are left no blank spaces among them. Therefore, the drive signals S2 are good for printing true black images.
The drive signals S2 shown in FIG. 1 are far form desirable for printing gray scale images by means of a Bayer-type dither. Nor are they desirable for printing characters, particularly complex ones (e.g., Chines characters), each consisting of many strokes. When driven by a signal S2, the laser diode emits a beam for the period T.sub.1, whereby a pixel will be formed which circumscribes the one-pixel region. Hence, even if some of consecutive drive signals S2 are at a low level as in the case of printing a gray image or characters, the resultant pixels overlap in most cases, as is illustrated at (c) in FIG. 2.
To print clear-cut gray images or characters, the laser diode can be driven by a signal S3 which is at the high level for a period T.sub.2 shorter than the period T.sub.1 as is evident from FIG. 1. When driven by the signal S3, the laser diode emits a laser beam to the photosensitive member for the period T.sub.2, forming a pixel on the member. This pixel is small, circumscribed by the square defining the one-pixel region as is shown at (a) in FIG. 3. Hence, if some of consecutive drive signals S3 are at a low level, the resultant pixels are discrete, forming a clear-cut gray image or distinct characters as is illustrated at (b) in FIG. 3. Obviously, the drive signals S3 are good for printing gray images and complex characters.
The signals S3, which remain at the high level for the period T.sub.2 (T.sub.2 <T.sub.1) are not good for printing a true black image, however. When driven by two or more consecutive drive signals S3, the laser diode intermittently emits laser beams, each for the period T.sub.2, thereby forming discrete pixels, with blank spaces among them, as is illustrated at (c) in FIG. 3. The discrete pixels, thus formed, fail to define a true black image.
The above-described problem with the conventional laser printer is also inherent in other types of electrophotographic printers, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) printer, a liquid-crystal printer. Further, the problem is found in thermal printers such as a heat-transfer printer, ink-jet printers, and electrostatic printers.

Printer for printing and image formed of 2-dimensionally arranged pixels, and method of printing the same


A plurality of surface acoustic wave elements, with an IDT electrode 2 and a pad electrode 3 formed on the principal surface of a piezoelectric substrate 1, are formed to be flip-chip mounted on a circuit board 5 and sealed using sealing resin 7. The circuit board 5 is diced integrally with the sealing resin 7 applying a rotating dicing blade 8 from the bottom surface side thereof to produce a plurality of surface acoustic wave devices. The side surfaces of the surface acoustic wave devices can be formed perpendicularly with dimensional accuracy without rounding or chipping an edge portion of the sealing resin 7.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a small surface acoustic wave device with a surface acoustic wave element mounted on a circuit board, and more particularly to a method capable of manufacturing a plurality of surface acoustic wave devices stably with a high manufacturing yield at a time. This kind of surface acoustic wave device is used in a radio communication apparatus such as a mobile phone.
2. Description of Related Art
Among mobile radio communication apparatuses, mobile phones have been decreasing in size and weight, and incorporating an increased number of circuit elements to be available in a plurality of communication systems.
Electronic components to be used as such circuit elements are strongly urged to be small-sized ones to improve the mounting density thereof on a main board.
Especially, among circuit elements used in a mobile phone, surface acoustic wave devices as a key device are strongly urged to achieve low-loss and wide-bandwidth characteristics as well as highly attenuated cutoff characteristics outside the passband, and further to decrease in size and height so as to be surface-mounted on a main board.
In addition, surface acoustic wave devices such as surface acoustic wave resonators and surface acoustic wave filters are also widely used in various kinds of radio communication apparatuses, in-car apparatuses, and medical apparatuses that utilize microwave band, which are required to be further reduced in size with the size reduction of such apparatuses.
Therefore, mounting structure types such as face-down surface mounting and CSP (Chip Size Package) are becoming mainstream when mounting surface acoustic wave elements on a circuit board.
The process of manufacturing such surface acoustic wave devices is classified mainly into a "pre-process" in which a surface acoustic wave element is incorporated into a piezoelectric substrate and a "post-process" in which the surface acoustic wave element is mounted on a circuit board.
In a conventional process of manufacturing a surface acoustic wave device of a package mounting type, a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements are incorporated into a piezoelectric substrate in block to be subsequently separated into each component to obtain a plurality of surface acoustic wave element chips (pre-process). Then, each surface acoustic wave element chip is mounted into a package (post-process).
As a result, there are limitations to achieving reductions in size and height, and the conventional process also suffers from a problem that the increased number of man-hours in the post-process leads to a rise in tact and manufacturing cost, resulting in an impact on the product's unit price.
Hence, in order to further reduce the size of surface acoustic wave devices and to simplify the manufacturing process thereof, there has also been proposed a packaging method in which a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements are face-down flip-chip mounted, respectively, in areas to be surface acoustic wave devices on a circuit board, and then the circuit board is finally diced into each surface acoustic wave device in block (refer to Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-110402, for example).
In this conventional process of manufacturing a surface-mounting type surface acoustic wave device, a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements are mounted on a circuit board to be subsequently separated into each surface acoustic wave device integrally with the circuit board in a dicing process.
In the dicing process, the circuit board is positioned on a base using butting pins, etc., and then diced by inserting a dicing blade between each surface acoustic wave element from the nonfunctioning surface side (opposite the surface of the piezoelectric substrate on which electrodes are formed) of the surface acoustic wave elements covered with sealing resin.
However, in a surface acoustic wave device thus manufactured in accordance with the conventional manufacturing method, since the circuit board on which the surface acoustic wave elements are flip-chip mounted is diced in the dicing process by inserting the dicing blade downward from the sealing resin side, an edge portion of the sealing resin covering the surface acoustic wave device may often be rounded or chipped.
If an edge portion of the sealing resin may be thus rounded or chipped, there occurs a problem that it is difficult to pick up the surface acoustic wave device due to a collet, etc. in the subsequent taping process of the surface acoustic wave device on embossed tape or the mounting process on an electronic circuit module, etc.
In addition, there is no dicing line on the sealing resin side that functions as a dicing guide for dimensionally accurate alignment while dicing the circuit board using the dicing blade from the sealing resin side of the surface acoustic wave device, resulting in poor alignment accuracy in the dicing process.

Method for manufacturing surface acoustic wave device


A thyristor starter is configured to accelerate a synchronous machine from a stop state to a predetermined rotation speed by sequentially performing a first mode of performing commutation of an inverter by intermittently setting DC output current of a converter to zero and a second mode of performing commutation of the inverter by induced voltage of the synchronous machine. In a first case in which a first synchronous machine having a first inductance is started, a switching rotation speed for switching from the first mode to the second mode is set to a higher rotation speed, compared with a second case in which a second synchronous machine having a second inductance larger than the first inductance is started.

Thyristor starters have been developed for staring synchronous machines such as generators and motors (for example, see WO2014/033849 (PTL 1)). A thyristor starter includes a converter for converting AC power into DC power, a DC reactor for smoothing DC power, and an inverter for converting DC power applied from the converter through the DC reactor into AC power with a variable frequency to supply the AC power to a synchronous machine. The AC power supplied to the synchronous machine is controlled whereby the synchronous machine in a stop state can be started and driven at a predetermined rotation speed.

TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION


An array substrate and a display device incorporating the array substrate are disclosed. The array substrate includes an alignment mark formed in a source-drain electrode layer, and a detection hole formed in a region in a pixel electrode layer and a passivation layer that corresponds to the alignment mark, such that normal detection of the alignment mark can be carried out by irradiating an electronic beam into the detection hole. The structure of the array substrate reduces the likelihood of detection failures.

During a detection process of an array substrate, alignment settings are required, wherein the alignment process includes: applying a common voltage signal on a pad and using a detection device to emit electronic beams to an alignment mark region of the array substrate, such that a metal region in the alignment mark region will absorb electrons emitted by the detection device to form an electric current, whereas an etched region will not absorb electrons because there is no metal. The detection device determines whether the alignment is correct by sensing the electric current.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional array substrate including a region where an alignment mark structure is formed. The array substrate comprises a glass substrate 1, a common electrode 2, a gate insulation layer 3, an etch barrier layer 4, a passivation layer 5, and a pixel electrode layer 6. An alignment mark is fabricated on the pixel electrode layer 6, and the pixel electrode layer 6 is connected with the common electrode 2 via holes formed in the etch barrier layer 4, the gate insulation layer 3, and the passivation layer 5. In order to avoid a break in the pixel electrode layer 6 deposited in the aforementioned via hole region (as shown in the circled portion of FIG. 1), the gradients of the sidewalls of the via holes and the sizes of the via holes need to be strictly consistent. However, it is difficult to control the gradients of the sidewall of the via holes in the actual process of etching the via holes. Therefore, failure of the alignment mark often occurs.

Array substrate, fabricating method thereof, and display device

Hefei Xinsheng Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A user definable mathematical function is implemented on a data processing system including a data terminal. The user definable mathematical function includes a user definable mathematical formula having at least one operand which is as yet unspecified or undetermined, but which will be retrieved from a source or location specified in the mathematical function. Execution of the user defined mathematical function is initiated by a data terminal selector device associated with the user definable mathematical function. Upon execution of the user defined mathematical function, a variable value is retrieved from the specified source and substituted for the unspecified operand in the user defined mathematical formula. The user defined mathematical formula is executed and a result of the execution provided. A method for providing and using such a user definable mathematical function is also provided.

Many data processing systems require an operator to perform real-time or on-line mathematical functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and number comparison. Such a need arises, for example, in credit collection operations wherein an operator must calculate a repayment schedule for a client's outstanding balance based upon the client's ability to meet an agreed upon monthly payment, or the client's desire to pay the balance owed over a selected period of time.
Most prior art systems have generally been preprogrammed to automatically provide a single, fixed calculation or mathematical function. This function or calculation is typically performed by an applications program such as a program that calculates a client's minimum monthly payment based on his or her account balance. Unfortunately however, such systems are inflexible and do not allow the operator to easily perform an additional calculation or mathematical function when requested by the client to better suit the client's needs.
To perform an additional mathematical function or calculation, an operator must either use a calculator; access a separate amortization or payment program; or access one or more printed sheets or tables with the selected mathematical formula precomputed for selected operands. Such systems are inflexible to varying operands and further, are prone to operator error requiring considerably more operator time, thereby reducing operator and system efficiency and performance.

Data processing system with user definable mathematical functions and a method for using same


A liquid core waveguide photon energy material processing system is provided. The system includes a photon energy source configured to generate a high intensity photon beam for material processing. The system also includes a liquid core waveguide configured to transmit the high intensity photon beam towards at least one object for material processing. The liquid core waveguide in-turn includes a liquid core having a first refractive index and a cladding element having a second refractive index and configured to guide the liquid core, wherein the first refractive index is higher than the second refractive index. The system further includes a liquid source configured to generate the liquid core. The liquid core includes a liquid solution.

The present invention relates generally to material processing using photon energy and more specifically to a method and system for high photon energy material processing using a liquid core waveguide.
During material processing, such as machining, thermal treatment, and laser shock peening, for example, high intensity energy sources, such as photon energy sources, are often implemented. While using a photon energy source, such as a laser, the photon energy may be transmitted through a medium called a waveguide and directed towards a target or material to be processed. In order to make the process efficient and avoid over-heating the waveguide, the energy loss during the transmission of photon energy should be very low. A principle, called total internal reflection (TIR), facilitates efficient transmission of photon energy through waveguides. Total internal reflection (TIR) is a phenomenon by which an electromagnetic wave is completely reflected when it travels from a medium of high refractive index to a medium of lower refractive index with an incident angle greater than a critical angle.
In order to meet the criteria for TIR, a solid core waveguide consisting of a solid core fiber having a high refractive index surrounded by a cladding having a low refractive index is often used in photon energy transmission. The use of a solid core fiber is effective in the telecommunication industry, which uses photon energy on the order of less than 1 watt/square centimeter (w/cm2), which is several orders lower than that used in material processing, which is typically higher than 104 w/cm2.
Disadvantageously, solid core fibers have inherent difficulties in transmitting high peak energy intensities or high average powers due to the presence of defects in solids. The defects in the solids scatter and absorb the incident photon energy, and thus, the defects act as local heat centers. When either the peak energy intensity or the average power is high, the solid core fiber distorts so much that the TIR condition is destroyed, and the solid core fiber eventually breaks down. Lasers with nanosecond or even shorter pulse durations are widely used in research and industry, but currently the solid core fibers cannot be used for such pulsed lasers due to the energy limitations mentioned above. Improving the purity of the solid core fiber may improve the transmission of photon energy using a solid core fiber. However, even with improved purity, solid core fibers pose some limitations. For example, even with a high purity ruby, the intensity of laser that can be transmitted through a solid core fiber is typically lower than 108 w/cm2. Furthermore, improving the purity of the solids also increases the cost of the solid core fibers.
Another method of transmitting photon energy is to use a hollow waveguide. A hollow waveguide relies on reflection of photon energy by smooth surfaces. Unlike TIR, each air-solid reflection has certain energy loss. Disadvantageously this makes the method of using a hollow waveguide less efficient and thus, introduces certain application limitations. Further, hollow waveguides also have the same limitations as solid core fibers, since any solid material may be damaged when exposed to high energies. Even glass, which is generally transparent to laser energy, may be damaged when exposed to energies greater than 109 w/cm2.
Furthermore, material processing using high-intensity photon energy is accompanied by thermal effects, which may be undesirable. For example, in laser machining using nanosecond or longer pulse durations, the machined region has a heat-affected zone (HAZ), which usually has tensile stress distributions. Thus, in addition to the problems set forth above, laser machining in air or a vacuum may also result in melting of the target, re-deposition of the target residue and attachment of the residue that may require post-processing.
Yet another method of transmitting photon energy is to use a liquid medium, such as a water jet in air, to transmit and confine an energy beam. Disadvantageously, the length of energy transmission is limited and the TIR effects due to water-air interface disappear once the water jet hits the target. Furthermore, bubbles will be formed during laser material processing. As will be appreciated, bubble formation generally lowers the process quality and limits its application. The bubble issue and the length issue mentioned above are not well solved in water jet laser energy transmission.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved method and system for material processing using photon energy techniques. More specifically, there is a need for an improved waveguide for flexibly transmitting high intensity photon energy and a method for improving the quality of material processing.

Photon energy material processing using liquid core waveguide and a computer program for controlling the same