A system and process for brokering a plurality of security applications using a centralized broker in a distributed computing environment is described. A centralized broker is executed on a designated system within the distributed computing environment. A set of snap-in components are provided with each performing a common management task sharable by a plurality of security applications. A console interface is exposed from the centralized broker. The console interface implements a plurality of browser methods which each define an browser function which can be invoked by each snap-in component. A set of snap-in interfaces are exposed from each snap-in component. Each snap-in interface implements a plurality of service methods which each define a user-interface function which can be invoked by the centralized broker. One or more security applications are brokered through the centralized broker. Each security application is interfaced to the centralized broker through the snap-in components. Each security application is managed by invoking at least one such browser method via the console interface. A plurality of the security applications are centrally serviced by invoking at least one such service method via at least one such snap-in interface.

The present invention relates in general to security application management and, in particular, to a system and process for brokering a plurality of security applications using a modular framework in a distributed computing environment.
Information networks interconnecting a wide range of computational resources have become a mainstay of corporate enterprise computing environments. Typically, several host computer systems are interconnected internally over an intranetwork to which individual workstations and network resources are connected. These intranetworks, also known as local area networks (LANs), make legacy databases and information resources widely available for access and utilization throughout the corporation. These same corporate resources can also be interconnected to wide area networks (WANs), including public information internetworks such as the Internet, to enable internal users access to remote computational resources, such as the World Wide Web, and to allow outside users access to select corporate resources for the purpose of completing limited transactions or data transfer.
Most current internetworks and intranetworks are based on the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite, such as described in W. R. Stevens, xe2x80x9cTCP/IP Illustrated,xe2x80x9d Vol. 1, Ch. 1, Addison-Wesley (1994), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Computer systems and network devices employing the TCP/IP suite implement a network protocol stack, which includes a hierarchically structured set of protocol layers. Each protocol layer performs a set of pre-defined functions as specified by the official TCP/IP standards set forth in applicable Requests for Comment (RFC).
The growth of distributed computing environments, particularly TCP/IP environments, has created an increased need for computer security, especially for protecting operating system and application software and stored data. A wide range of security applications are needed to ensure effective security. For example, firewalls and intrusion detection systems are necessary to combat would-be network intruders, the so-called xe2x80x9chackers,xe2x80x9d of the networking world. Similarly, antivirus scanning applications must be regularly executed and, equally importantly, updated, to detect and eradicate xe2x80x9cmalwarexe2x80x9d consisting of computer viruses, Trojan horses, and other forms of unauthorized content.
In addition to these forms of reactive security applications, proactive security applications are increasingly being adopted to prevent security breaches from happening. For instance, vulnerability scanners probe and identify potential security risks and concerns. Likewise, xe2x80x9choney potxe2x80x9d or decoy host systems create the illusion of a network of relatively unguarded, virtual hosts within which a would-be hacker can be tracked and identified.
While these types of security applications form a powerful arsenal of defensive and offensive security tools, configuring and managing these security tools is a time-consuming and complex task. Even within a given site, security policies may vary and require different settings depending upon the platform and organizational needs. Moreover, the time required to properly configure and maintain a network site grows substantially with each installed platform. For instance, a detection signature must be installed on each networked system for every newly-discovered computer virus. Installing these signatures alone can take a substantial amount of time. Finally, individual systems, particularly when left with open administrative permissions, can depart from the actual security policy in effect, thereby by-passing the security measures already in place and unwittingly placing the network in jeopardy.
On-going maintenance notwithstanding, defensive security applications typically generate logs of network events. In the same way, offensive security applications generate reports of vulnerabilities and similar findings. These logs and reports can be extremely voluminous, potentially to the point of data saturation. A single report for an average size corporate network can easily span several hundred pages, the bulk of which may never be read or used. Moreover, each security application tends to adopt a proprietary log or report format which duplicates reporting functionality through an application-specific approach. These proprietary approaches result in the duplication of efforts and waste needless computational resources.
Therefore, there is a need for an approach to providing a centralized management framework for security applications. Such an approach would preferably provide an integrated broker into which a variety of services, such as event analysis and reporting, could be flexibly installed for use by plurality of security applications.
There is a further need for a security application framework providing a common user interface for configuring and managing both local and remote security applications.
The present invention provides a system and process for interfacing and brokering security applications using a security management interface framework. A centralized broker is interfaced to a set of snap-in components in a layered, hierarchical structure. A root snap-in component provides the basic user interface and management infrastructure and is surrounded by top-level snap-in components which provide security application-independent services. The top-level snap-in components are surrounded by one or more layers of security application snap-in components. In addition, security applications running on client systems can be configured and managed through an agent communication snap-in service.
An embodiment of the present invention is a system and process for brokering a plurality of security applications using a centralized broker in a distributed computing environment. A centralized broker is executed on a designated system within the distributed computing environment. A set of snap-in components are provided with each performing a common management task sharable by a plurality of security applications. A console interface is exposed from the centralized broker. The console interface implements a plurality of browser methods which each define an browser function which can be invoked by each snap-in component. A set of snap-in interfaces are exposed from each snap-in component. Each snap-in interface implements a plurality of service methods which each define a user-interface function which can be invoked by the centralized broker. One or more security applications are brokered through the centralized broker. Each security application is interfaced to the centralized broker through the snap-in components. Each security application is managed by invoking at least one such browser method via the console interface. A plurality of the security applications are centrally serviced by invoking at least one such service method via at least one such snap-in interface.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a namespace is provided as a snap-in component to the centralized broker for remotely configuring and managing security applications on remote client systems.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a hierarchically structured set of event databases can be associated with the centralized broker. Event data is cascaded from child event databases to a root event database for analysis and reporting.
Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein is described embodiments of the invention by way of illustrating the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

System and process for brokering a plurality of security applications using a modular framework in a distributed computing environment


A marine propulsion device comprising a gear housing adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat, a drive shaft rotatably supported by the gear housing and adapted to be drivingly connected to a propeller, a clutch mechanism supported within the gear housing and operably connected to the drive shaft, an actuating member movably supported by the gear housing and including a portion extending exteriorly of the gear housing, and a mechanism mounted on the gear housing for forming a substantially water-tight chamber containing the portion of the actuating member.

The invention relates to marine propulsion devices, and, more particularly, to stern drive units.
Marine propulsion devices operate in harsh environments that can cause accelerated corrosion and premature failure of components. Failure of shift actuation components is a matter of particular concern. The standard method of protecting critical components is to fabricate them of expensive composites or stainless steel.
Attention is directed to the following U.S. patents:
______________________________________ 2,335,597 Nov. 30, 1943 2,681,029 Jun. 15, 1954 3,088,296 May 7, 1963 3,136,284 Jun. 9, 1964 3,399,647 Sep. 3, 1968 4,767,365 Aug. 30, 1988 ______________________________________
Attention is also directed to U.S. Ser. No. 677,569, filed Dec. 3, 1984.

Marine propulsion device seal arrangement


Client computer(s) retrieve and display synchronized annotated multimedia streams from servers dispersed over a diverse computer network which includes local area networks (LANs) and/or wide area networks (WANs) such as the internet. Multimedia streams provided to the client computer(s) can include a compressed video stream for display in a video window and an accompanying compressed audio stream. Annotations, i.e., displayable events, include textual/graphical data in the form of HTML pages with Java applets to be displayed in one or more event windows. The video/audio and annotation streams are produced and then stored in stream server(s). Annotation streams include annotation frames which provide either pointer(s) to the event(s) of interest or include displayable data embedded within the annotation stream. Accordingly, each annotation frame includes either an event locator or an event data. In addition, each annotation frame includes an event time marker which corresponds to the time stamp(s) of associated video frame(s) within the video stream. Examples of embedded displayable data include ticker tape data embedded within the annotation stream. Examples of event locators to displayable events include URL addresses pointing to HTML web pages. Video/audio streams and annotation streams are provided by the stream server(s) to the client computer(s) in a coordinated manner, so that the client computer(s) is able to synchronously display the video frames and displayable event(s) in a video window and event window(s), respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multimedia communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to the synchronous delivery of annotated multimedia streams over a diverse computer network.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the proliferation of connections to the internet by a rapidly growing number of users, the viability of the internet as a widely accepted medium of communication has increased correspondingly. Bandwidth requirements can vary significantly depending on the type of multimedia data being delivered. For example, a low resolution, low frame rate video telephone call may require only an ISDN connection, while a high resolution video broadcast of a live event to a large group of viewers may require the bandwidth of a T1 connection. Hence, the ability to deliver of multimedia data over the internet is limited by bandwidth capacity and cost of the network connection and also by the computational capability of the server and client computers.
Existing conventional internet applications, such as electronic mailers and web browers, are capable of transferring and presenting textual and graphical information. However, none of these individual internet applications effectively provide synchronous delivery of a combination of diverse multimedia streams in a coherent and integrated manner. This is because executing several independent and unrelated applications to present the diverse combination of multimedia streams on a client computer can result in a hodgepodge of poor quality, incompatible and/or incoherent presentations.
In view of the foregoing, there are desired improved techniques for reliably providing a multimedia stream such as a video and audio stream, together with annotations such as textual and graphical information in an integrated seamless package to client computer(s), while efficiently utilizing the network resources and consuming minimal computational cycles on the client computer(s).

Streaming and displaying a video stream with synchronized annotations over a computer network


A new Osteospermum plant particularly distinguished by red-purple flowers with greyed-white eyes and an upright growth habit, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'KLEOE17333'. 'KLEOE17333' originated from a cross-pollination conducted in May to October 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya between the female Osteospermum variety SPRINGSTAR 'Magenta' (patent status unknown), and the proprietary male Osteospermum variety 'KLOEO14215' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,694).
The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhouse for evaluation, where an individual plant designated 'KLEOE17333' was selected from the group of plants in May 2014 in Stuttgart, Germany. In October 2014 in Stuttgart, Germany, 'KLEOE17333' was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative terminal cuttings. 'KLEOE17333' was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative terminal cuttings.


A day-and-night backlit film may include: a film having a front side and a back side; a translucent inkjet receiving coating layer applied to the front side of the film; and a reflective layer applied to the back side of the film. A method of manufacturing the backlit film is also described.

The popularity of large format inkjet printing is rapidly increasing. The applications range from wall coverings to signs, advertising, banners, commercial applications, and the like, with the printing incorporating, symbols, photographs, architectural drawings, graphics and/or text. Certain inkjet large format applications such as illuminated signboard use a polymeric film as the supporting base and on which one side is applied an ink receiving layer as the carrier of the image.
The film media can be used as regular "front-side" viewing, where light illuminates on the media from the front and reflects back to viewer's eyes. Other film media can be used as "back-side" viewing where light such as in a light box comes from behind the image through a light diffusion panel or light diffusion coating layer and illuminates the printed image.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An existing luminaire may be updated with an improved reflector by removing the lamp from an existing lighting fixture and inserting a lamp socket extender which is designed to accept a plurality of different configuration reflectors for various types of lamps having selected intensities, diffusion and distribution characteristics. The reflector adaptor eliminates adjustment problems involving the position of the reflector relative the lamp.

In the workplace, light reflectors and diffusers have evolved from a primitive metal reflector to various convoluted shapes of metal reflectors on one side of the light source and associated diffusers on the other. In factories and warehouses where illumination must be provided over a large area, a large number of incandescent fixtures have been used to provide standard levels of illumination. To reduce the total number of lamps needed, a variety of high intensity lamps using mercury, metal halide, high pressure sodium have been developed. In general, such high intensity luminaires are considerably more expensive than the comparable incandescent luminaires.

Reflector adaptor for industrial luminaire


In order to reduce the material and production costs, a hinge-lid box comprising a single all-in-one blank is desirable. In the case of a blank designed, in particular, in accordance with the transverse folding principle, the collar (12) is connected to a main blank (27) for the hinge-lid box, in the region of the folding tabs of the lid (11), via approximately triangular folding gussets (46, 47). The folding gussets (46, 47) are positioned such that, by folding the collar (46, 47) over against the inner side of the main blank, the collar automatically passes into the position which is appropriate for the pack. The folding gussets (46, 47) are connected to the collar (12) by material remnants (52, 53). When the lid (11) is opened for the first time, the material remnants (52, 53) are severed.

The invention relates to a hinge-lid box for cigarettes or the like, comprising a box part, a lid connected pivotably thereto, and a collar which is anchored in the box part and projects out of the same by means of a sub-region, the collar being connected to the lid by material webs and/or material remnants, which can be severed when the lid is opened for the first time.
Hinge-lid boxes for cigarettes or the like consist of a thin cardboard. The collar conventional for this type of pack is, in practice, a separate blank. This necessitates additional material and manufacturing outlay.
Proposals for a single-piece blank, in the case of which the collar is connected to a main blank for the hinge-lid box, have thus already become known.
In the case of a single-piece all-in-one blank, the collar has to be positioned such that, on the one hand, a material-saving is achieved and, on the other hand, the collar can be folded, by machine-specific folding steps, into the position which is appropriate for the pack.

Hinge-lid box for cigarettes or the like and blank for producing the same


A floating-point multiply accumulate method acquiring a final mantissa result comprises comparing exponents of (A*B) and C. Transferring part of the C mantissa to a CHI register. Shifting any part of the C mantissa which overlaps the range of the (A*B) mantissa to align the bits of the (A*B) and C mantissas. Adding the shifted part of the C mantissa to the (A*B) mantissa. Shifting least significant bits corresponding to a number of bits transferred to the CHI register out of the Temp. Result. Mask merging bits of the C mantissa which were transferred to the CHI register with most significant bit positions of the shifted Temp. Result. Rounding this mantissa result to the first precision and acquiring L from an Lbit value of the CHI register or an Lbit value of the Temp. Result based on the bit value of the merge mask corresponding to the Lbit position.

The present invention relates generally to floating point processing. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for adding the input addend in an FMAC (floating-point multiply accumulate) procedure.
In the design of microprocessor architecture, three very important considerations are speed, accuracy and cost. While it is desirable to design a microprocessor (CPU) which performs multiplication, addition and other operations with superior accuracy and at a very high rate of speed, it is also desirable to design a CPU which can be cost effectively manufactured. Speed and accuracy have been greatly increased in RISC (reduced instruction set computer) CPUs by fusing multiply and add operations into the multiply accumulate operation (A*B)+C. If it is desired to merely add or multiply two numbers, the operation A*B can be performed by setting C=0, and the operation A+C can be performed by setting B=1. The component of a CPU which performs the (A*B)+C operation is commonly referred to as an FMAC (floating-point multiply accumulate unit) or MAF/FPU (multiply-add-fused floating-point unit).
The inputs to an FMAC are the operands A (multiplicand), B (multiplier) and C (addend), where A, B and C may be fixed or floating-point numbers (floating-point numbers are numbers expressed in scientific notation). The IEEE conventions for representing single-precision (32-bit), double-precision (64-bit), and extended-precision (82 bit) floating-point numbers in binary form is [S, E, M], where S is a single bit representing the sign of a number, E is a multi-bit value (e.g., 17 in extended precision) corresponding to an exponent (which may be offset by a bias), and M is a mantissa (or the fractional portion of a normalized value either stripped of or including its leading 1). (In this specification, it can be assumed that any expressed mantissa includes its leading 1.) Thus, the form of a floating-point number is S*M*2(E-bias). With single precision, M is represented by 24 bits; with double-precision, M is represented by 53 bits; and with extended precision, M is represented by 64 bits.
In carrying out the (A*B)+C operation, the FMAC initially multiplies A and B together resulting in an A*B value that is stored in a corresponding register. In most systems, a sufficiently wide data path is used for this multiplication step such that the resulting A*B mantissa has twice the bits of a single valued mantissa. For example, in an extended precision system, the A*B is normally 128 bits wide. The A*B value is then added to the C addend. With particular relevance to the present invention, a crucial step in adding these values involves adding the A*B mantissa to the C mantissa to acquire the mantissa result. U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,686 to Naffziger et al. (which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into this specification) teaches a valuable method that minimizes the required data-path for performing this mantissa addition step.
The final step in the FMAC process is rounding the final mantissa result to the desired bit position. In extended precision, the mantissa value is rounded to 64 bits. Likewise, with double precision (DP), the value is rounded to 53 bits, and in single precision (SP), the mantissa is rounded to 24 bits. With double and single precision in register file format (which has 64 bit slots for the mantissa), the lower slots (i.e., 11 and 40, respectively) are padded with xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9ds. Everything else that is rounded off of the resulting mantissa is discarded or used for the rounding calculation, which determines whether or not to increment or decrement the mantissa result.
In conventional rounding techniques, three values (L, G, and S) are typically used to perform the rounding calculation. The least significant bit of the result mantissa (prior to rounding) is the L value. The bit directly to the right of L is the G value, which is known as the guard bit. Everything to the right of G goes into the determination of S, which is known as the xe2x80x9csticky.xe2x80x9d The sticky is basically just an OR""ing of each of the bits to the right of G (including those that fall off, as will be addressed below). So, S is basically just a single-bit value, which is true if any bit to the right of G is 1.
FIG. 1 shows an FMAC 20 for adding the mantissa""s of A*B and C. A, B, and C 22, 24, 30, each comprising an m-bit mantissa and an exponent, and the (A*B) result 28 comprising a xe2x80x9c2m+1xe2x80x9d-bit mantissa and an exponent, is described herein. FMAC 20 generally comprise a CHI register 32, coupled to means for transferring bits of the C mantissa 30 which exceed a range of the (A*B) mantissa 28 to the Result 44; a CBUS register 36, coupled to an alignment shifter 34 for placing bits of the C mantissa 30 which overlap the range of the (A*B) mantissa 28 into the CBUS register 36, the overlapping bits contained within the (A*B) and CBUS registers 28, 36 being aligned for adding; an adder 38, coupled to the (A*B) and CBUS registers 28, 36, and providing an (A*B)+CBUS output 46; a leading bit anticipator (LBA) 40 connected to the (A*B)+CBUS output 46 of the adder 38; a normalization shifter 42, coupled to the leading bit anticipator 40, and providing a normalized temporary output 48; and means for merging those bits of the CHI register 32 comprising bits of the C mantissa 30 which exceed the range of the (A*B) mantissa 28 with one or more most significant bits of the temporary output 48 to produce an (A*B)+C accumulate output 44.
With reference to FIGS. 2-5, respectively, there are four general cases for adding the A*B and C mantissas based on the relative differences of their associated exponents. The first case is when EXP(C) is sufficiently less than EXP(AB) such that the mantissas do not overlap when being added. The second case is when EXP(C) is less than EXP(AB), but they overlap such that there is some interaction when they are added. The third case is when EXP(C) is greater than EXP(AB), but they overlap such that they interact when added. Finally, the fourth case, which is referred to as the xe2x80x9cBig Cxe2x80x9d case, occurs when EXP(C) is sufficiently larger than EXP(AB) such that they do not overlap and there is no interplay when they are added. After an (A*B) result 28 is created, the magnitude of the (A*B) 28 and C 30 exponents are compared to determine which of four possible cases exists.
FIGS. 2-5 show the adding methods for the above-described four cases. The method generally comprises the steps of comparing the exponents of (A*B) 28 and C 30 to determine whether there is an overlapping range of the (A*B) 28 and C 30 mantissas; transferring any part of the C mantissa 30 which exceeds a range of the (A*B) mantissa 28 to a CHI register 32; shifting any part of the C mantissa 30A that overlaps the range of the (A*B) mantissa 28 in the C bus 36 and zeroing out the remaining portion of C Bus 36, so as to align the bits of the (A*B) 28 and C 30 mantissas according to their respective magnitudes; if not in case 4, adding the C Bus 36 to the (A*B) mantissa 28 to generate a temporary result 46; if a portion of the C mantissa was transferred to the CHI register 32, right shifting the Temp. Result 46 such that one or more least significant bits corresponding to a number of bits transferred to the CHI register 32 out of the temporary result to generate a Shifted Temp. Result 48; and merging with a merge mask 47 the bits of the CHI register 32, which correspond to the C mantissa exceeding the A*B mantissa, with one or more most significant bit positions of the shifted temporary result 48 to generate a final accumulate result 44.
With reference to FIG. 2, case one will now be considered. In case one (FIG. 2), EXP(C) is sufficiently less than EXP(AB) such that when their exponents are compared and their mantissas aligned, there is no overlapping between AB 28 and C30. This results with no contribution from C (other than for sticky calculation) for the Final Mantissa Result 44. With C 30 being completely to the right of A*B 28, the C Bus 36 is filled with 0""s. The CHI register 32 plays no role in this case because no portion of C is higher than (falls to the left of) A*B 28. The contents of A*B register 28 and the C Bus 36 are added with the result placed in Temp Result register 46. The Temp. Result 46 and CHI 32 (which has no role in this case) are then merged together with Merge Mask 47 to produce the Final Mantissa Result 44. The values in the Merge Mask 47 are based on the difference between the AB and C exponents. The merge mask is aligned with the Temp. Result register 46 and the CHI register 32; in each bit location, it either has a 0 for selecting the corresponding CHI bit or a 1 for selecting the corresponding Temp. Result (A*B+C) bit. In this case where no portion of C falls to the left of A*B 28, the merge mask 47 has all 1""s for entirely selecting the Temp. Result register 48. Only the A*B mantissa 28 contributes to the Final Result 44, and the C mantissa 30 is used only for acquiring the sticky value.
With reference to FIG. 3, case 2 will now be described. In case two, EXP(C) is less than EXP(AB), but when properly shifted in adding alignment, a portion 30A of C overlaps with A*B 28. As with case 1, the portion 30B of C that falls off (in this case to the right) is only used for determining the sticky value and then discarded. With C 30 shifted as shown in the drawing, the C Bus 36, in its least significant portion, includes the part of C 30A that overlaps the A*B mantissa 28. The rest of the C bus 36 is filled with 0""s. For this case, the CHI register 32 again plays no role in the determination of the Final Result 44. The contents of the A*B register 28 and the C Bus 36 are then added and placed in Temp Result register 46. The Temp. Result 48 and CHI 32 are then merged together with the Merge Mask 47 to produce the Final Mantissa Result 44. Based on the exponent difference between AB and C, the merge mask again, with C being within or to the right of C, has all 1""s for entirely selecting the Temp. Result register 48 for the Final Result 44.
With reference to FIG. 4, case 3 will now be considered. A number of bits 30C of C corresponding to the difference between the C 30 and (A*B) 28 exponents are transferred into the CHI register 32 in its most significant portion. The remaining least significant portion of the CHI register 32 is filled with ones. Once the high order bits of C 30 have been transferred to CHI 32, it matters not what remains in the high order bit positions of C 30. The remaining contents of C 30 are transferred to the C Bus 36. They are shifted left a number of bits corresponding to the difference of the C 30 and (A*B) 28 exponents. It can be seen that the high order portion, 30C, of C 30 is masked from C Bus 36, and the overlapping bits, 30A, of C 30 and (A*B) 28 are aligned. The less significant bits of C Bus 36 are filled with 0""s. Having aligned the overlapping portion of C 30 with the (A*B) result 28, the Temp. result 46 is generated with the addition of A*B 28 and the C Bus 36. Sticky bit information may be used to round the Temp Result 46, and any carry out of Temp Result 46 may be used to increment CHI 32. (Note that since the less significant bits of CHI 32 are filled with ones, a carry from Temp. Result 46 will ripple through the less significant bits of CHI 32 into the bits of CHI 32 representing the high order portion of C 30.)
After obtaining Temp. Result 46, the Temp. Result 46 must be right-shifted via shifter 42 by a number of bits equal to the difference between the C 30 and (A*B) 28 exponents. The shifted Temp. result register is pictured at 48. The high order portion of C 30 contained in CHI 32 and the Shifted Temp. Result 48 are now merged with mask 47 to produce the Final Result 44. This time, based on the difference between the A*B and C exponents, the most significant bits (corresponding to the number of bits of C falling off of A*B) are now 0""s for selecting the CHI register 32, and the remaining lower bits are 1""s for selecting the Shifted Temp. Result 48.
With reference to FIG. 5, case 4 will now be addressed. This case, where C is sufficiently larger than A*B such that all of the result mantissa comes from C, is referred to as the xe2x80x9cBig Cxe2x80x9d case. As will be discussed below, the Big C case is uniquely special because when it is identified, rounding calculations can more efficiently be performed. With C 30 falling completely to the left of A*B, all of C gets put into the CHI register 32. With the Big C case being identified, the shifting and use of the C Bus can be bypassed, and CHI 32 is directly merged into the Final Mantissa Result 44. The A*B mantissa only comes into play in the sticky calculation.
In prior art, input and output precision always matched. That is, even in systems with hardware having, for example, the capability to handle double (53 bit) precision, the output may have been required to be rounded to single precision. This was not a problem, however, because with the input and output precisions being guaranteed to match, the system would know that the input precision must also be single.
FIG. 6A shows an example of this type of situation. In this example, both the input and output values are known to be single-precision floating-point numbers. The C mantissa 130 is stored in a 53 bit register, and the A*B mantissa 128 is stored in a 106 bit register. The pertinent data (mantissa) is placed on the upper portions of the operand registers, and the lower bits padded with 0""s. Thus, in the example of FIG. 6A, the upper 24 bits are the C mantissa, and the lower 29 bits are padded with 0""s. It can be seen that because that lower portion of C, which is set to 0, is the only thing overlapping with A*B, there is basically no interaction between C and A*B other than the rounding interactions. Thus, it can be identified as a case four (or Big C) case. The important thing is that it can be classified into one of the four cases and processed accordingly. Thus, in the prior art, simply by knowing the output precision, the input precision was also known, and the case threshold could be appropriately set for properly identifying a given computation""s case.
It was also a simple matter to determine L, G, and S. For example, with the Big C case, L is always a particular bit of C, i.e., the least significant bit of the mantissa. With the example of FIG. 6A, it would always be bit 30. G is always guaranteed to be 0, and sticky is just an OR""ing of A*B. If A*B is not 0, then S is true, and if it is 0, then S is false. When the Big C case is identified, it is easy to determine these values. However, in cases other than a Big C case, L, G, and S, could still be readily calculated using conventional methods for these other cases.
Thus, the above-described Naffziger algorithm, which removes the need for a 3N+1 data path width in cases 3 and 4, is an excellent algorithmxe2x80x94even when single precision values were being processed with double precision hardware. Because of that, L, G and S were easy to obtain. They were either obtained from the Big C case, or they were readily found exclusively from the Temp. Result (A*B+C) register.
Unfortunately, now, with IA64 architecture, which uses register file format (i.e., extended precision), the input and output precisions are not guaranteed to match. The input values are always in register file format. If the output is rounded to single or double precision, the lower bits on the input operands are not necessarily 0""s. Thus, when the output is to be rounded to a smaller precision, the inputs cannot be assumed to have the corresponding precision. With a reduced precision output, the lower bits only get rounded off after the addition operation is performed. Thus, case thresholds can""t be established for specific output precisionsxe2x80x94as they could in the pastxe2x80x94because, e.g., there is still interaction between the bits beyond the 24 (single precision) bits and the A*B bus. Thus, a L, G, and S can not be readily determined with the conventional algorithm by simply identifying the case. Now, rather than coming only from the Temp. Result register in determinable locations, L and G and some of sticky may come from the CHI bus. FIG. 6B shows an example that illustrates this problem. The C mantissa 170 exponent is greater than the A*B mantissa 168 exponent by 26 bits. For this case, assume that the rounding is to single precision. Thus, only 24 bits of the result mantissa will be kept. If it was known that the lower 40 bits were 0 because the number was guaranteed to be single precision, this case could be identified as a Big C case. However, there is interaction between those lower (not necessarily 0) bits and A*B.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method for obtaining the rounding parameters, L, G, and S, in an FMAC having an output precision that may be smaller than the input precision.
These and other objects, features and technical advantages are achieved by a system and method which in an m-bit precision system effectively acquires rounding parameters when the final mantissa result is rounded to a lower precision. A floating-point multiply accumulate unit is provided for performing the accumulate operation (A*B)+C. A, B, and C each comprise an m-bit mantissa and an exponent, and the (A*B) result comprises a xe2x80x9c2m+1xe2x80x9d-bit mantissa and an exponent. Also provided is a method for adding C to the (A*B) result to acquire a final mantissa result that is rounded to a first precision that is smaller than m. In one embodiment, the method includes the following acts. Comparing the exponents of (A*B) and C to determine whether there is an overlapping range of the (A*B) and C mantissas. Transferring any part of the C mantissa which exceeds a range of the (A*B) mantissa to a CHI register. Shifting any part of the C mantissa which overlaps the range of the (A*B) mantissa, so as to align the bits of the (A*B) and C mantissas according to their respective magnitudes. Adding the shifted part of the C mantissa to the (A*B) mantissa to generate a Temp. Result.
If a portion of the C mantissa was transferred to the CHI register, then shifting one or more least significant bits corresponding to a number of bits transferred to the CHI register out of the Temp. Result. Merging with a merge mask the bits of the C mantissa which were transferred to the CHI register with one or more most significant bit positions of the shifted Temp. Result to generate an accumulated 1 mantissa result. Acquiring L from a selected one of an Lbit value of the CHI register and an Lbit value of the Temp. Result based on the bit value of the merge mask corresponding to the Lbit. Finally, rounding the mantissa result to the lower precision using one or more rounding parameters including a leading bit (L).
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Method for acquiring FMAC rounding parameters

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for controlling a damper having a closed position and an open position for providing flow communication between a first cooled compartment and a second cooled compartment is provided. The method includes toggling the damper from an initial position of the damper to a position different from the initial position and then back to the initial position on a periodic basis.

This invention relates generally to sealed system refrigeration devices, and more particularly, to controlling a damper in refrigerators.
Modern refrigerators typically include a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser in a closed refrigeration circuit, and a number of fans that facilitate the refrigeration circuit and direct cooled air into refrigeration compartments. Conventionally, the condenser, evaporator and condenser are operated at a single speed, and a plurality of single speed fans are employed in association with the condenser, evaporator, condenser and also to direct cooled air throughout the refrigerator. Collectively, these components are sometimes referred to as a sealed system. While these single speed sealed systems have been satisfactory in the past, they are now perceived as disadvantageous in several aspects.
For example, such single speed systems often entail considerable temperature variation in operation of the refrigerator as the sealed system cycles on an off. Further, the refrigerator can sometimes be undesirably noisy as it cycles from an off or relatively silent condition to an on condition with the sealed system components energized. In addition, single speed systems are not as energy efficient as desired.
While most of these disadvantages can be addressed by using multiple speed or variable speed fans and sealed system components, use of variable speed components has caused changes in the way refrigerators are operated. For example, in variable systems the duty cycle of the compressor is nearly continuous while in single speed systems the duty cycle is much less than nearly continuous. For example, in one known single speed system the duty cycle is 50%. However, a nearly continuous duty cycle may cause undesirable ice build up.
In one aspect, a method for controlling a damper having a closed position and an open position for providing flow communication between a first cooled compartment and a second cooled compartment is provided. The method includes toggling the damper from an initial position of the damper to a position different from the initial position and then back to the initial position on a periodic basis.
In another aspect, a cooling device includes a first compartment including a plurality of first walls and at least one first door defining a first enclosed volume of the first compartment and a second compartment including a plurality of second walls and at least one first door defining a first enclosed volume of the second compartment with one of the first walls. A damper is between the first compartment and the second compartment, the damper is movable to change an amount of flow communication between the first compartment and the second compartment. A sealed system is configured to provide cooling capacity to the first compartment and the second compartment is operationally coupled to the first compartment and to the second compartment. A temperature control system is operationally coupled to the damper and to the sealed system. The control system is configured to toggle the damper from an initial position to a position different from the initial position and then back to the initial position on a periodic basis.
In a further aspect, a refrigerator includes a first compartment configured to preserve food, the first compartment including a plurality of first walls and at least one first door defining a first enclosed volume of the first compartment, and a second compartment configured to preserve food coupled to one of the first walls, the second compartment including a plurality of second walls and at least one second door defining a second enclosed volume of the second compartment with one of said first walls comprising a damper movable to change an amount of flow communication between the first compartment and the second compartment. A sealed system is operationally coupled to the first and second compartments, the sealed system is configured to provide cooling capacity to the first and second compartments. A temperature control system is operationally coupled to the sealed system and to the damper. The control system is configured to maintain the first compartment at a first temperature, maintain the second compartment at a second temperature different from the first temperature, and toggle the damper from an initial position to a position different from the initial position and then back to the initial position on a periodic basis.

Sealed system multiple speed compressor and damping control


A semiconductor substrate having a source/drain region is initially provided, wherein a channel is formed in the space between the source/drain region within the semiconductor substrate. Then the oxide-nitride-oxide layers are formed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the nitride layer is a charge trapping layer. Afterward, an electrically conductive material layer such as a gate is formed on and overlays the oxide-nitride-oxide layers. Subsequently, the memory cell is programmed by ultraviolet light irradiation to increase the threshold voltage of the memory cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method for forming a memory, and more particularly to a method for a read only memory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, developments have included various techniques for increasing the density of integration of the semiconductor memory device and decreasing the voltage thereof. A memory is a semiconductor device used to store data or information, wherein the memory has a plurality of cells such as a plurality of memory units for storing the data or information. The memory cells are arranged within an array to connect with word line and bit line, so as to perform their function for reading or writing. There are two types of memory, one is random access memory (RAM) and another is read only memory (ROM). A random access memory is an array of latches, each with a unique address, having an addressing structure that is common for both reading and writing. Data stored in most types of RAM""s is volatile because it is stored only as long as power is supplied to the RAM. A read only memory (ROM) is a circuit in which information is stored in a fixed, nonvolatile manner, that is, the stored information remains even when power is not supplied to the circuit.
By convention, the read only memories have various styles, which can be classed by different methods for storing information, such as a programmable read only memory (PROM) is one in which the information is stored after the device is fabricated and packaged, erasable programmable read only memories (EPROM) are programmable read only memory that can be completely erased and reprogrammed, electrically erasable programmable read only memories (EEPROM) and a mask read only memory (MROM). The mask read only memory is a device for programming a desired cell transistor by selectively implanting impurity ions into a channel region of the cell transistor in the course of fabricating the same. Once information is programmed, the information cannot be erased. Thus, it is a non-volatile memory.
A control gate and a floating gate have long been utilized for forming a memory. Electrons are moved onto or removed from the floating gate of a given memory cell in order to program or erase its state. The floating gate is surrounded by an electrically insulated dielectric. Since the floating gate is well insulated, this type of memory device is not volatile; that is, the floating gate retains its charge for an indefinite period without any power being applied to the device. Moreover, if enough electrons are so injected into the floating gate, the conductivity of the channel of the field effect transistor of which the floating gate is a part is changed. Hence, a control gate is coupled with the floating gate through a dielectric layer and acts as a word line to enable reading or writing of a single selected cell in a two-dimensional array of cells. One type of memory array integrated circuit chip includes elongated, spaced apart source and drain regions formed in a surface of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the source and drain regions form the bit lines of the memory. A two-dimensional array of floating gates has each floating gate positioned in a channel region between adjacent source and drain regions, while the control gate is positioned over each row of floating gates in a direction transverse to the source and drain regions, wherein the control gates are the word lines of the memory array.
If the read only memory has a structure, such as nitride layer, it is called nitride read only memory (NROM). There are two processes for fabricating the nitride read only memory (NROM) cells. In the first process, bit lines are first created in the substrate, after which the surface is oxidized. Following the oxidation, the ONO layers are added over the entire array. The word lines are then deposited with polysilicon in rows over the ONO layers. In the second process, the ONO layers are formed over the entire array first, on top of which conductive blocks of polysilicon are formed. The bit lines are implanted between the blocks of polysilicon after which the ONO layers are etched away from on top of the bit lines. Planarized oxide is then deposited between the polysilicon blocks after which polysilicon word lines are deposited.
FIG. 1, to which reference is made, illustrates a typical prior art nitride read only memory cell. This nitride read only memory cell includes a substrate 100 in which are implanted a source 110 and a drain 120 and on top of which lies an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) structure 130 having a layer of nitride 150 sandwiched between two oxide layers 140 and 160. On top of the ONO structure 130 lies a gate conductor 170. Between source 110 and drain 120 is a channel 180 formed under ONO structure 130. Nitride section 150 provides the charge retention mechanism for programming the memory cell. Specifically, when programming voltages are provided to source 110, drain 120 and gate conductor 170, electrons flow towards drain 120. According to the hot electron injection phenomenon, some hot electrons penetrate through the lower section of silicon oxide 140, especially if silicon oxide section 140 is thin, and are then collected in nitride section 150.
As shown in FIG. 1B, which is known in the art, nitride section 150 retains the received charge in a concentrated area adjacent drain 120. Concentrated charge 190 significantly raises the threshold voltage of the portion of the channel 180 of the memory cell under charge 190 to be higher than the threshold voltage of the remaining portion of the channel 180. When concentrated charge 190 is present (that is, the cell is programmed), the raised threshold voltage of the cell does not permit the cell to be placed into a conductive state during reading of the cell. If the concentrated charge 190 is not present, the read voltage on gate conductor 170 can overcome the much lower threshold and, accordingly, channel 180 becomes inverted and hence, conductive. Nevertheless, it is necessary to provide a large of voltage for programming of conventional read only memory, so as to overcome difference of potential energy that is very high. Therefore, the process complexity is increased and, hence, cost is increased.
In accordance with the above description, a new and improved method for forming the nitride read only memory is therefore necessary, so as to raise the yield and quality of the follow-up process.
In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for fabricating the read only memory that substantially overcomes the drawbacks of the above mentioned problems which arise from the conventional methods.
Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating the read only memory having a charge trapping dielectric sandwiched between two silicon dioxide layers. This invention can use exposure of high energy light for programming the memory, so as to accelerate sufficiently electrons at the high energy light irradiated region to inject into the region of the trapping dielectric layer. Hence, the present invention is appropriate for deep sub-micron technology to provide the semiconductor devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming the nitride read only memory. The present invention can define an array of memory cells to have binary threshold states. Furthermore, a non-high energy light-penetrable film is deposited and is patterned to define programming cell regions and non-programming cell regions for having binary threshold states. Hence, this invention can decrease differences of potential energy without higher voltage circuitry for electrical programming. Moreover, no program circuitry is required for nitride read only memory cell programming, so as to reduce process complexity and, hence, cost. Therefore, the present invention can provide positive economic effects.
In accordance with the present invention, a new method for forming semiconductor devices is disclosed. First of all, a semiconductor substrate that has a source/drain region is provided, and a channel is located in the space between the source/drain region within the semiconductor substrate, wherein the channel is a predetermined region for programming. Then the oxide-nitride-oxide layers are formed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the nitride layer is a charge trapping layer. Afterward, an electrically conductive material layer as a gate is formed on and overlays the oxide-nitride-oxide layers. Subsequently, the memory cell is programmed by ultraviolet light irradiation to increase threshold voltage of the memory cell.

Method for forming nitride read only memory


The invention relates to a method for optimally visualizing a morphologic region of interest of a bone in an X-ray image of a patient, comprising: —receiving a set of 3D medical images of the bone, —creating a 3D bone model of at least part of the bone comprising said region of interest from said set of 3D images, —determining a criterion representative of a visualization of the extent of said morphologic region of interest, —automatically determining from the 3D bone model optimal relative bone and X-ray orientation so as to optimize said criterion for said patient, —creating at least one virtual X-ray image of the bone from said set of 3D images according to said optimal relative bone and virtual X-ray orientation.

When a morphologic region of interest of a bone has to be visualized in an X-ray image including said bone, the orientation of the bone in the image may not be optimal in view of assessing the whole extent of the region of interest.
Indeed, despite the fact that the radiologist or technician attempts to position the bone in an optimal position with regard to the X-ray orientation, the relative bone and X-ray orientation may be such that the region of interest is at least partially masked by another part of the bone and thus hinders a correct assessment of the bone morphology.
This issue arises in particular in—but not limited to—the assessment of femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI).
Femoroacetabular impingement is characterized by pathologic bony lesions on the acetabulum ("pincer" lesion) and/or femoral head-neck junction ("cam" lesion).
These bony lesions can cause intra and extra-articular collisions within the hip joint during certain dynamic activities, resulting in structural damage to the cartilage and labrum of the hip joint.
Bony lesions associated with FAI are typically treated with open or arthroscopic resection of the pathologic bony lesion.
The current standard of care relies on standard 2D X-ray views (such as AP (antero-posterior) pelvis, Dunn lateral, cross-leg lateral) and 3D medical imaging modalities (in particular CT (Computed Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)) to perform a pre-operative assessment of the extent of the bony lesion associated to FAI and create a surgical resection plan.
When performing a pre-operative radiographic assessment, multiple 2D X-ray views are required in different hip joint positions and different X-ray orientation in an attempt to characterize the 3D nature of the bony lesion.
Up to five X-rays are usually obtained for diagnosis and surgical planning.
These X-rays are often repeated due to errors in patient positioning during image acquisition, which result in increasing the radiation exposure for the patient and for medical staff.
Besides, the positions of the bony lesions can vary substantially from patient to patient.
As a result, due to the 2D nature of X-ray projection imaging, the radiographic views often fail to capture the full extent of the bony lesion.
This problem has been partially addressed with the increased utilization of pre-operative 3D medical imaging (CT and/or MRI) for more comprehensive visualization and measurement of bony lesions associated with FAI.
Measurements are often made in multiple planes from these 3D images and these images are sometimes segmented to create 3D renderings of the joint morphology.
Combining the information derived from X-rays, MRI and/or CT, the surgeon is usually able to adequately appreciate the 3D nature of the bony pathology and create a pre-surgical resection plan.
However, while the move to 3D imaging has improved the ability to develop a pre-operative resection plan, intra-operative assessment of the surgical resection of the bony lesion still relies primarily on 2D X-ray imaging, using C-arm fluoroscopy.
Hence, the surgeon often spends a significant amount of operative time moving the hip joint through a range of motion in order to determine the radiographic view for optimal visualization of the bony lesion.
It is indeed difficult for the surgeon to translate the pre-operative morphologic assessment (either 2D or 3D) into the specific hip joint position and/or X-ray orientation required for optimal visualization of the bony lesion.
Alternatively, some surgeons may not perform a thorough intra-operative radiographic assessment, thereby often missing the full extent of the bony deformity.
Taken together, the lack of optimized intra-operative radiographic views of the bony deformity leads to increased operating time, increased radiation exposure for the patient and medical staff and/or incomplete resection of the bony lesion.

Method for optimally visualizing a morphologic region of interest of a bone in an X-ray image


The present invention involves a liquid jet propelled transporter and launcher toy. The launcher has a housing with a reservoir for holding a predetermined amount of liquid therein less than the volume of a transporter container and related to that volume. There is a reservoir fill port and cap to enable a user to fill the reservoir and close it. The launcher has a jet tube receiver adapted to receive a jet tube of a transporter. A pump is connected to the housing with a manually actuated pump and a one way valve from the pump to the reservoir. There is a transporter latch mechanism located on the housing and a release for releasing the latch mechanism so as to launch a transporter. The transporter includes a container for receiving liquid from the reservoir of the housing and a jet tube extending from the container which is adapted to fit onto the jet tube located in the housing. The liquid is stored in the reservoir and then pumped into the propulsion container of the transporter by actuating the pump and further actuation of the pump creates positive air pressure and within the reservoir and within the propulsion container of the transporter. Thereafter, the transporter may be released to freely advance away from the housing by jet propulsion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a liquid jet propelled transporter and launch toy. More specifically, it is directed to a toy which propels a transporter (a vehicle, boat, plane, etc.) by a liquid air propulsion combination. Further, the present invention utilizes a liquid fill reservoir and pump whereby liquid is transferred from a reservoir into a transporter container and the device is subsequently pumped up to a significant positive pressure, and the transporter is subsequently released for propulsion. Thus, the present invention pertains in general to motive type toys which are launched by hand operation and the launched portion or transporter may be on land, in the air, on or under water.
2. Prior Art Statement
Toys involving launchers have been around for at least thirty or forty years and apparently emerged with modern rocketry, although not all such toys pertain directly to rockets. Over the years various types of jet-powered toys have been developed which rely upon pressurized liquid within a container in the projectile or transporter and/or rely upon pneumatic launching.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,733,699 issued to B. Krinsky describes a rocket toy using a pressurized launcher and a spring mechanism for initial thrust. Pressurized air is created by a hand pump and a resilient washer (42) is used to retard launching until adequate pressure is achieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,927,398 issued to Kaye et al describes a multi-stage rocket in which fluid within chambers in each of multiple stages of a rocket are pressurized and sequentially released. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,818 issued to Reginald Pippin describes a multi-staged rocket with mechanisms for pressurizing liquid within containers for each stage.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,896 to Marvin Glass et al describes a jet-powered vehicle wherein a wheeled vehicle has a chamber or container within it and has a launching device which includes an air pump with a one-way valve there is also clamp means for holding the vehicle in the charging position and a trigger means for releasing the clamping device following the charging of the chamber to permit the vehicle to be propelled by means of reaction of the jet drive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,249 issued to Bonnie Fogarty et al describes a toy glider with a pneumatic launcher. In this device, a wristlet includes a pumping mechanism as well as a flexible conduit to which a glider may be attached the pump is used to pressurize and pneumatically project the glider.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,065 issued to John Fertig describes and a toy vehicle and hand held pneumatic launcher wherein the pumping mechanism has a piston and hollow cylinder designed for a particular type of grip of a child coupled with thumb or hand operation of the pump mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,100 issued to Adolf Goldfarb describes a toy vehicle and launcher which uses contractive power of liquid in a liquid expanded chamber to propel the vehicle. Here, a significantly large reservoir is utilized to fill and expand a bladder which is connected to and part of a transporter or toy vehicle it is the expanded, pressurized bladder with the air and water mixture which propels the vehicle as a result of the contraction of the bladder upon release of the vehicle.
Notwithstanding the prior art in this field, no patent teaches or renders obvious the present invention device which utilizes a launcher which has a reservoir which holds a predetermined amount of liquid such that the entire quantity of liquid is moved from the launcher reservoir into the transporter so as to create a predetermined volume mixture of liquid and air to maximize a two step liquid jet propulsion of the transporter upon launching.

Liquid jet propelled transporter and launcher toy


A biasing member is configured to provide a pressing member with a biasing force acting to bias the pressing member against a detecting portion before the pressing member receives a reaction force from the detecting portion when an opening/closing member is closed. A support portion receives the reaction force acting on the pressing member from the detecting portion while the opening/closing member is closed, and the pressing member maintains an operation state independently with respect to the detecting portion while the opening/closing member is closed.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium using a developer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus including a detecting portion for detecting opening/closing of an opening/closing member provided at a main body of the apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of opening/closing members for exposing the inside of the image forming apparatus so that the user can easily exchange consumable goods and supplies or solve a trouble like a jam. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-316523 discloses a technique in which an apparatus main body is provided with a detecting portion configured to turn on/off in response to opening/closing of a cover (opening/closing member), and an alarming device is activated when the cover is opened.
Although Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-316523 does not disclose a specific operation mechanism for the detecting portion, an apparatus including an operation mechanism that is provided on a main body side thereof and that moves in synchronization with an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member has been known (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-122000, FIG. 5).
According to a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-122000, a configuration in which one micro-switch (detecting portion) is used to detect opening/closing operation of two covers (opening/closing members) is provided. More specifically, the configuration includes a lever holder moved in a first direction by closing operation of a top cover (opening/closing member), a spring for biasing the lever holder in a direction opposite to the first direction, and a lever member provided pivotably at the lever holder. While a side cover is closed, the pivotal movement of the lever member is restricted, and while the top cover and the side cover are closed, the lever member presses the micro-switch, whereby the micro-switch is brought into the detecting state.
However, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-122000, while the top cover and the side cover are closed, reaction force from the button of the micro-switch is applied on the side cover through the lever member. This may cause the side cover to have creep deformation or the side cover may be shifted from a desired position while the side cover is closed, so that a gap or a step may form between exterior parts around the side cover and the opening/closing member. This causes the timing for switching on/off the micro-switch to vary in some cases.
The side cover receives the reaction force from the micro-switch, and the reaction force may cause the opening/closing member to open in the timing in which the side cover starts to open despite the intention of the user. In the meantime, the opening/closing member may not be closed as easily as intended by the user because of the reaction force in the timing in which the opening/closing member should be completely closed.


A pen-based system for reflowing handwritten ink objects is disclosed. The system divides the ink objects into paragraphs by identifying groups of ink objects separated from other groups by predefined distances. Each such paragraph is classified as either a graphics paragraph or a text paragraph; graphics paragraphs are formatted according to a graphics formatting protocol and text paragraphs are formatted according to a text formatting protocol. In addition, the system writes formatted paragraphs to destinations where they are displayed. The destination may be a screen on which the ink objects were originally written by a user and/or a printed page, a computer monitor, etc.

This invention relates generally to computer systems, and to graphical user interfaces for computer systems. More specifically, the invention pertains to systems for organizing handwritten images in a document.
Computerized personal organizers are becoming increasingly popular. They perform such functions as keeping a calendar, an address book, a to-do list, etc. While these functions can be provided by conventional computer systems, they are more conveniently provided by personal organizers which are relatively inexpensive, small, and lightweight (i.e. portable). Personal organizers are available from such companies as Sharp and Casio of Japan.
A relatively new form of computer, the pen-based computer system, holds forth the promise of a marriage of the power of a general purpose computer with the functionality and small size of a personal organizer. A pen-based computer system is typically a small, hand-held computer where the primary method for inputting data includes a "pen" or stylus. A pen-based computer system is commonly housed in a generally rectangular enclosure, and has a dual-function display assembly providing a viewing screen along one of the planar sides of the enclosure. The dual-function display assembly serves as both an input device and an output device. When operating as an input device, the display assembly senses the position of the tip of a stylus on the viewing screen and provides this positional information to the computer's central processing unit (CPU). Some display assemblies can also sense the pressure of the stylus on the screen to provide further information to the CPU. When operating as an output device, the display assembly presents computer-generated images on the screen.
The dual-function displays of pen-based computer systems permit users to operate the computers as computerized notepads. For example, graphical images can be input into the pen-based computer by merely moving the stylus across the surface of the screen. As the CPU senses the position and movement of the stylus, it generates a corresponding image on the screen to create the illusion that the stylus is drawing the image directly upon the screen, i.e. that the stylus is "inking" an image on the screen. With suitable recognition software, the "ink" can be identified as text and numeric information.
One of the most desirable functions of a pen-based computer system is the ability to take and retrieve notes. In the past, however, the entry of text and graphics into a pen-based computer system has been severely limited by constraints imposed by the pen-based computer's operating system. For example, text typically had to be entered in small boxes or fields, and usually the location for insertion of text was specifically identified. Further, the ability to reformat material entered into prior pen-based computer systems was quite limited. Often a user will wish to have rough handwritten notes organized in easy-to-read straight lines and paragraphs. Thus, there remains a need for a system that can accept ink notes jotted anywhere on a screen and then organize them in a consistent and convenient format.

System and method of reflowing ink objects


An active layer is formed on an n-type InP buffer layer of a substrate. A pair of strip-shaped grooves are formed into the active layer to divide it into a contract portion and side portions. A p-type InP cladding layer is deposited on the entire surface of the active layer and grooves. The cladding layer is selectively etched to form a mesa portion including the central active portion and expose the buffer layer. An insulating film is coated on the mesa portion and buffer layer, so that a semiconductor light-emitting device is manufactured.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device such as a refractive index waveguide laser or a double-heterojunction light-emitting diode and a method of manufacturing the same and, more particularly, to a semiconductor light-emitting device in which an active region is surrounded by a semiconductor layer having an energy gap wider than that of the active region and a method of manufacturing the same.
Various types of semiconductor light-emitting devices having a double-heterojunction structure have recently been developed. In the semiconductor lightemitting devices of this type, it is important to satisfy the following conditions A to C.
A. A current is efficiently concentrated only in a light-emitting region or an active region which is controlled to have a very small area so as to improve a light-emitting efficiency.
B. An electrode is formed over a wide region so as to decrease the contact resistance.
C. When high-speed modulation is required as in the case of a light-emitting device for optical communication, an area of a portion where a p-n junction is formed is minimized so as to decrease a junction capacitance.
An example of a semiconductor light-emitting device for optical communication, which satisfies the above three conditions to some extent, is a mesa laser utilizing a mass transport technique, which is applied to a GaInAsP/InP semiconductor laser (e.g., Y. Hirayama et al. "Low Temperature and rapid mass transport technique for GaInAsP/InP DFB lasers, Inst. Phys. Conf. Ser. No. 79: Chapt 3 Paper presented at Int. Symp. GaAs and Related Compounds Karuizawa, Japan, 1985, p. 175-186). Such a semiconductor light-emitting device is called an MT laser. A method of manufacturing the MT laser and its characteristics will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1A to 1D are sectional views schematically showing steps of manufacturing a conventional MT laser. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, 3 .mu.m-thick n-type InP buffer layer 2, 0.1 .mu.m-thick undoped GaInAsP active layer 3 having a composition capable of emitting 1.3 .mu.m-band light, 1.5 .mu.m-thick p-type InP cladding layer 4, and 0.8 .mu.m-thick p+-type GaInAsP cap layer 5 having a composition capable of emitting 1.15 .mu.m-band light for realizing good ohmic contact are successively crystalgrown on the surface of (100) plane of n-type InP substrate 1.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, selective etching is performed until layer 3 is exposed to form a mesa portion having a width of 15 .mu.m. At this time, if hydrochloric acid is used to remove layer 4, etching can be automatically stopped at layer 3 because of its selectivity.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1C, both sides of layer 3 are etched by an etchant consisting of sulfuric acid + hydrogen peroxide + water (4:1:1) to form a 1 .mu.m-wide active region. At this time, InP is almost not etched, and only quaternary GaInAsP is etched. Although layer 5 is etched, it is etched to an extent of about 1/3 that of layer 3 because of a difference between their compositions. In order to obtain stable fundamental transverse mode oscillation and a low oscillation threshold current, a width of the active region must be accurately controlled to be about 1 .mu.m.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1D, in consideration of confinement of transverse mode light and a sufficient mechanical strength, a deep constricted portion of layer 3 etched as described above is buried with an InP layer to obtain a so-called buried hetero (BH) structure. In the MT laser, an MT technique is used to grow this buried portion. That is, a phenomenon in which the InP is first grown in the constricted portion if phosphorus is added at a high temperature (670.degree. C). Note that if InCl.sub.3 is used as an catalyst, rapid growth can be achieved at a lower temperature.
SiO.sub.2 film 6 as an insulating film is formed throughout the entire surface of the above element, and a window is formed at a contact portion of the insulating film. An AuZn layer is formed on layer 5 as p-side electrode 7 by a lift-off technique, and electrode 7 is heated and alloyed. Thereafter, Au-Cr is deposited on electrode 7 and film 6 to form electrode 8. In addition, n-side electrode 9 is formed on substrate 1, thereby completing the MT laser.
In this MT laser, a current can be concentrated in an active region or layer 3 by a built-in potential difference between GaInAsP of layer 3 and InP of the buried region. In addition, the junction capacitance is small because the junction is formed only at the mesa portion of a 15 .mu.m width. Thus, the MT laser is advantageous for high-speed response. Furthermore, electrode 7 can be formed to have a width of about 10 .mu.m.
However, the MT laser of this type has a problem of controllability with respect to a width of the active region. That is, when the 15 .mu.m-wide active layer is to be selectively etched from the both sides to form a 1 .mu.m-wide active region, it is difficult to stop etching of an active region at a width of 1 .mu.m with high accuracy, and the entire active layer is sometimes etched, resulting in a poor manufacturing yield. This etching controllability becomes poor as a width of the mesa portion is increased, and a mesa width cannot be formed larger than 15 .mu.m. Where the mesa width is 15 .mu.m, in consideration of a mask alignment margin, a mesa width of an ohmic electrode portion must be set below 10 .mu.m. For this reason, the contact resistance cannot be sufficiently decreased. Furthermore, since an area of the InP junction at the buried portion is defined by the width of the mesa portion, it is difficult to form the area narrower than the mesa width.
Note that although the area of the buried portion can be adjusted by controlling a time of the MT step, controllability thereof is very poor. For this reason, the width of the buried InP junction cannot be optimized, e.g., narrowed to decrease the junction capacitance while confining the transverse mode light. Therefore, it is very difficult to obtain higher performance In addition, a carrier concentration at the buried junction portion must be optimized so that the junction capacitance is decreased and a built-in potential at the junction portion is increased to decrease a current leakage, thereby obtaining a high output. However, in the conventional MT technique, since the carrier concentration is not controlled, a concentration at the junction portion cannot be defined, resulting in a serious design problem.
As described above, according to the conventional MT technique, it is difficult to set the width of the active region with high accuracy, and this difficulty prevents high performance of a buried-type semiconductor light-emitting device. In addition, when an area of the buried portion is decreased, a contact area is decreased to increase the contact resistance. Furthermore, when the contact area is increased, the buried area is increased to increase the junction capacitance, and it is difficult to control the width of the active region.

Semiconductor light-emitting device and method of manufacturing the same


This invention provides novel nanofiber enhanced surface area substrates and structures comprising such substrates for use in various medical devices, as well as methods and uses for such substrates and medical devices. In one particular embodiment, methods for enhancing cellular functions on a surface of a medical device implant are disclosed which generally comprise providing a medical device implant comprising a plurality of nanofibers (e.g., nanowires) thereon and exposing the medical device implant to cells such as osteoblasts.

Medical devices including, for example, intracorporeal or extracorporeal devices (e.g., catheters), temporary or permanent implants, stents, vascular grafts, anastomotic devices, aneurysm repair devices, embolic devices, and implantable devices (e.g., orthopedic or dental implants) are commonly infected with opportunistic bacteria and other infectious micro-organisms, in some cases necessitating the removal of implantable devices. Such infections can also result in illness, long hospital stays, or even death. The prevention of biofilm formation and infection on indwelling catheters, orthopedic implants, pacemakers, contact lenses, stents, vascular grafts, embolic devices, aneurysm repair devices and other medical devices is therefore highly desirous.
Enhancement of resistance of biomaterials to bacterial growth and promotion of rapid tissue integration and grafting of biomaterial surfaces are both areas of research. However, despite advances in sterilization and aseptic procedures as well as advances in biomaterials, bacterial and other microbial infection remains a serious issue in the use of medical implants. For example, greater than half of all nosocomial infections are caused by implanted medical devices. These infections are often the result of biofilms forming at the insertion site of the medical implant. Unfortunately, such infections are often resistant to innate immune system responses as well as to conventional antibiotic treatments. It will be appreciated that such infections are problematic not just in treatment of humans, but also in treatment of a number of other organisms as well.
A welcome addition to the art would be medical devices having enhanced surface areas and structures/devices comprising such, as well as methods of using enhanced area surfaces in medical devices. The current invention provides these and other benefits which will be apparent upon examination of the following.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Medical device applications of nanostructured surfaces


Apparatus is disclosed for recording video information signals on magnetic media by sampling the information signal and converting the samples to a plurality of component digital data streams which are simultaneously recorded on separate surfaces of a disc pack associated with a generally standard computer disc drive and for thereafter reproducing the plurality of digital data streams and recombining the same in a manner whereby the analog video information signal is reconstructed.

The present invention generally relates to recording and reproducing apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus that is adapted to record and reproduce television signals, using digital techniques.
The continued advances in technology have resulted in many changes in the equipment that is currently being used in television broadcast stations. One of the more recent changes that has evolved is the shift away from photographic techniques toward the use of magnetic media in many phases of the operation of the commercial broadcast television station. For example, feature films being broadcast often originate from magnetic tape rather than film and television station news departments are increasingly converting to videotape recording systems rather than using film cameras to provide the visual coverage of the news stories. Moreover, many systems utilize travelling transmitters that can either broadcast on location coverage or transmit such coverage to the station which can either be broadcast "live" or videotaped, edited and broadcast at a later time. Some of the many benefits of these techniques are the ease of handling, flexibility and speed of processing compared to the use of photographic film, coupled with the ability to reuse the magnetic tape when the information that is recorded on them is no longer needed.
One of the last remaining film domains in the present day commercial television broadcasting station is the Telecine island which uses 35 millimeter film transparencies. The Telecine island is used to provide video still images that are used during programming, commercials, news and the like, i.e., wherever a still image may be used during operation. Their use is extensive as is evidenced by the fact that the average commercial broadcast television station maintains a total file on the order of about 2000 to 5000 35 millimeter transparency slides. The maintenance of the total file represents a laborious operation which requires introduction of new slides, the discarding of obsolete slides and the maintenance of an accurate index so that they can be readily obtained when needed. When slide program sequences are to be assembled, they must be manually carried to the Telecine island, cleaned and manually loaded. Even with the cleaning operation, dust particles and scratches and the like may easily result in an unsatisfactory end product even when the projectionist is careful. Moreover, following their use during broadcasting, the slides must be removed and returned to the file. The entire assembling, use and refiling of the slides represents a substantial labor investment because of the many manual operations that are required. The Telecine operation is considered to be one of the most antiquated operations in many modern broadcast stations and is basically incompatible with a fully automated station operation.
In contrast to the Telecine island or the use of opaque graphic material as the source for generating video still images, the present invention involves a recording and playback apparatus that will record and reproduce still images, with the still image video information being stored on magnetic media. The apparatus of the present invention utilizes generally standard computer disc drives (through modified in some respects as will be described) as the magnetic storage media and thereby eliminates the many problems that are associated with slide transparencies. Since the still images are recorded on magnetic media, the problems of physical degradation during use, e.g., dust particles and scratches, are not experienced. Moreover, since the recorded information can be easily accessed, the same still image may be used by operators at different locations almost simultaneously.
While the apparatus of the present invention is suited to recording and reproducing still images and a preferred embodiment is described herein as arranged for such operations, the apparatus can be arranged to record and reproduce a sequence of images depicting motion with both altered and unaltered time base effects.

Video frame storage recording and reproducing apparatus


A liquid discharging method for a liquid head discharge head. The head has discharge ports, liquid flow paths, bubble generating areas, bubble generating means, liquid supply ports connecting the flow paths with a common liquid supply chamber, and a movable member in the flow paths supported with a minute gap to the supply ports. The area of the movable member surrounded at least by its free end and both sides continued therefrom is larger than the opening area of the supply ports. The method includes the step of setting a period for the movable member to substantially close the opening area during the period from the application of a driving voltage to the bubble generating means to the substantial termination of isotropical growth of the entire bubble by the bubble generating means. Growth of the bubble component in the direction opposite the discharge port can be suppressed, improving liquid refill.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head for discharging liquid by creating a bubble (bubbles) with thermal energy acting upon liquid, and the method of manufacture therefor. The invention also relates to a liquid discharge apparatus that uses such liquid charge head.
Also, the present invention is applicable to a printer that records on a recording medium, such as paper, thread, fabric, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramic, a copying machine, a facsimile equipments provided with communication system, and a word processor having a printing unit therefor. The invention further relates to an industrial recording apparatus formed complexly in combination with various processing apparatuses.
In this respect, the term "recording" referred to in the specification of the invention hereof not only means the provision of characters, graphics, and other meaningful images for a recording medium, but also, means the provision of images, such as patterns, which are not meaningful.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, for the so-called bubble jet recording method has been known, which is an ink jet recording method for forming images by the adhesion of ink onto a recording medium by discharging ink from discharge ports by the acting force based upon the abrupt voluminal changes following the creation of bubble by applying thermal energy or the like to liquid ink in flow paths of a recording apparatus, such as a printer. As disclosed in the specification of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,129, the recording apparatus that uses this bubble jet recording method is generally provided with discharge ports to discharge ink; flow paths communicated with these discharge ports; and electrothermal converting elements arranged in the flow paths to serve as energy generating means.
In accordance with a recording method of the kind, it becomes possible to record high quality images at high speeds in a lesser amount of noises, and at the same time, to arrange discharge ports for discharging ink in high density for the head using this recording method with such an excellent advantage, among some others, that recorded images are obtained in high resolution even in colors with a smaller apparatus. Therefore, the bubble jet recording method has been widely utilized for a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile equipment, and other office equipment in recent years. Further, this method has been utilized even for an industrial system, such as a textile printing apparatus.
Along with the wider utilization of bubble jet technologies and techniques for the products in various fields, there are increasingly more demands in various aspects. Then, for example, in order to obtain higher quality images, there has been proposed the driving condition whereby to provide a liquid discharge method or the like that performs excellent ink discharges at higher speeds based upon the stabilized creation of bubble or in consideration of the achievement of higher recording, there has been proposed the improved flow path configurations for obtaining a liquid discharge head having a higher refilling speed of liquid into the liquid flow path where liquid has been discharged.
Of these proposals, for the head that discharges liquid along with the growth and shrinkage of bubble created in nozzles, it has been known that the efficiency of discharge energy and the refilling characteristics of liquid tend to become unfavorably by the bubble growth in the direction opposite to the corresponding discharge port, and the resultant liquid flow caused thereby. The invention of a structure in which to enhance the discharge energy efficiency, as well as the refilling characteristics of the kind has been proposed in the specification of the European Patent Laid-Open Application EP-0436047A1.
The invention disclosed in the specification of this European Laid-Open Application is such that a first valve that cuts off the connection between the area near the discharge port and the bubble generating area, and a second valve that cuts off the connection between the bubble generating area and the ink supply portion completely, and that these valves are open and closed alternately (see FIG. 4 to FIG. 9 of the EP436047A1). For example, in accordance with the example shown in FIG. 7 of the aforesaid Laid-Open Application., a heat generating element 110 is arranged substantially in the center of the ink flow path 112 between the ink tank 116 and the nozzle 115 on the base plate 125 that forms the inner wall of the ink flow path 112 as shown in FIG. 37 hereof. The heat generating element 110 resides in the section 120 which closes all the circumferences in the interior of the ink flow path 112. The ink flow path 112 comprises the base plate 125; the thin films 123 and 126 which are laminated directly on the base plate 125; and tongue pieces 113 and 130 serving as closing devices. The tongue pieces in releasing condition are indicated by broken lines in FIG. 37. The other thin film 123 which extends on the flat plane parallel to the base plate 125 and terminates by the stopper 124 is arranged to shield over the ink flow path 112. When a bubble is created in ink, the free end of the tongue piece 130 on the nozzle region, which is in contact with the stopper 124 in its stationary condition, is displaced toward upward. Thus, ink liquid is discharged from the section 120 into the ink flow path 112, and discharged through the nozzle 115. At this juncture, the tongue piece 113, which is arranged in the area of the ink tank 116, is closely in contact with the stopper 124 in the stationary condition. Therefore, there is no possibility that ink liquid in the section 120 is directed to the ink layer 116. When the bubble in ink is extinct, the tongue piece 130 is displaced downward, and it is again closely in contact with the stopper 124. Then, the tongue piece 113 falls down in the ink section 120, thus allowing ink liquid to flow into the section 120.

Liquid discharge method, liquid discharge head, liquid discharge apparatus, and method for manufacturing liquid discharge head


The present disclosure is directed to a passive optical avionics network system and method.

Modern onboard avionics networks for serve to provide data transfer between all facets of an aircraft. Avionics systems typically have a variety of systems that provide data to processing components of the aircraft or exchange data among one or more other components of the aircraft. For example, a variety of avionics modules may gather avionics data (e.g., sensors detecting speed, direction, external temperature, control surface positions, and the like) that is routed by the avionics system via an avionics network to one or more aircraft components such as displays, monitoring circuits, processors, and the like.
In some aircraft systems, the avionics network may be constructed with an Aeronautical Radio INC. (ARINC) 429 data bus capable of supporting communication between many components. More recently, Ethernet networks have been used in avionic network environments by leveraging Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technology to increase bandwidth and reduce cost.
Ethernet type networks have been used in communication networks for implementing communication among various network components. An Ethernet network may be used to send or route data in a digital form by packets or frames. Each packet contains a set of data, and the packet is generally not interpreted while sent through the Ethernet network. In an avionics network environment, the Ethernet network typically has different components that subscribe to the avionics network and connect to each other through switches. Each network subscriber can send packets in digital form, at controlled rates, to one or more other subscribers. When a switch receives the packets, the switch determines the destination equipment and directs or switches the packets to such equipment.
Such Ethernet networks may include Avionics Full DupleX (AFDX) switch Ethernet networks. In a switched full-duplex Ethernet type network, the term "full-duplex"refers to sending and receiving packets at the same time on the same link, and the term "switched" refers to the packets being switched in switches on appropriate outputs. However, the AFDX network uses multiple switches and redundant paths to route data, point-to-point or point-to-multipoint across the switches.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a avionics network having reduced hardware cost while maintaining functionality and safety.

Abstract: A passive avionics network may comprise: (a) an optical line terminal (OLT); (b) at least one optical network unit (ONU); (c) a fiber optic bus operably coupling the OLT and the ONU; and (d) an avionics module operably coupled to the ONU.

Abstract: An integrated modular avionics (IMA) system may comprise: (a) a line-replaceable unit (LRU), the LRU comprising: (i) a processing unit; and (ii) an optical line terminal (OLT); (b) at least one optical network unit (ONU); (c) a fiber optic bus operably coupling the LRU and the ONU; and (d) an avionics module operably coupled to the ONU.

Abstract: A method for avionics network communication may comprise: (a) providing avionics data; (b) transmitting the avionics data via a fiber optic network; (c) receiving the avionics data; and (d) controlling functionality of an avionics module according to the avionics data.