A programmable logic controller (PLC) in an operating system such as a machine includes a software development tool having labels in a first field to identify and describe specific input/output (I/O) points in the PLC. Each label assignment can be used in the formation of rungs in a ladder logic array to facilitate programming of the PLC. The PLC also allows for the entry of descriptive comments in a second comment field associated with each label assignment to assist the programmer. Secondary function instructions replace the descriptive comments in the comment portion of a label, or in the comment field, to generate a diagnostic, or status, indication such as an alarm for the machine when executed by the PLC. Comments for labels are transformed by a translator, with a file containing the labels and associated comments accessed and scanned for label comments with the appropriate syntax. Secondary function instructions are recognized by the use of specific key words in the comment field. Other functions not part of PLC control of the machine, such as operator interface with the system, may also be programmed into the comment field for performing secondary functions in a manner which facilitates programming of the PLC and makes more efficient use of PLC memory.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are commonly used in industrial equipment such as assembly lines and machine tools to sequentially operate the equipment in accordance with a control program stored in the controller. The control program is stored in a memory and includes instructions which are read out in rapid sequence to monitor the condition of selected sensing devices, frequently remotely located, on the controlled equipment. These instructions generally activate or deactivate selected operating devices on the controlled equipment as determined by the status of one or more sensors. The typical processor in a PLC rapidly executes programmable controller-type instructions which call for the manipulation of single-bit input data in the control of single-bit output data.
The operating program is loaded into the PLC's memory by means of a programmer which may be in the form of a personal computer (PC). The operating program is in a ladder logic format consisting of a large number of rungs each containing a label which describes a specific input/output (I/O) point within the PLC. The ladder rungs containing the label file are typically referred collectively to as a "label field." Many PLCs are also provided with a second field, commonly referred to as a "comment field." The comment field includes various comments each relating to one of the labels and stored in the same rung as its associated label. Each comment is typically in the form of a short, terse expression and serves as an aid to a programmer in facilitating programmer identification of its associated label. The comments are not used by the operating program which controls the operation of the PLC, but rather allow the programmer, or system user, to describe in some detail a concept associated with a given label which is written as a brief, typically abbreviated, statement.
Referring to FIG. 1, there are shown two examples of the format of programming labels for use in programming a conventional PLC. The label mode allows the assignment of alphanumeric names to any I/O address and storage register address of the PLC. Labels are useful for identifying external I/Os, internal relays, and data registers in terminology relevant to the operator, maintenance personnel and/or programmer. Once programmed, the labels can be displayed with the ladder rungs on a monitor if desired. Each label can consist of 1 to 18 characters in the example of FIG. 1 and is stored in a first label field, or record. If more characters are desired, these may be programmed as a label comment in a second field known as the comment field. A designated symbol, such as a colon in the example of FIG. 1, separates the label and comment fields. As indicated above, the comment following the colon is typically a short, terse expression which serves as an aid in facilitating identification of its associated label. The contents of the comment field has heretofore been ignored and not used by the operating program stored in the PLC. The first comment in FIG. 1 relates to limit switch LS-12, which is stored in memory location 1-01. The label comment "LOCATED ON MACH #2" in the comment field indicates that the label relates to limit switch LS-12 on machine #2. The second programming label shown in FIG. 1 is stored in memory locations 1-16 and relates to motor starter MS-11, with the associated label comment indicating that this label relates to the motor starter MS-11 in the main conveyor.
A PLC makes decisions based on a user-developed control program. The control program is developed using ladder diagram programming. Ladder programming is similar to relay logic diagrams used to represent relay control circuits. Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, there are respectively shown simplified examples of a relay logic diagram and the equivalent ladder diagram rung. In the ladder diagram, all inputs are shown as contact symbols and all outputs as coil symbols along with an associated number which is the address. These "address" numbers reference either the location of the external input/output connections to the PLC or the internal relay equivalent address within the PLC. As indicated in the ladder diagram of FIG. 2b, coil 02-09 will be turned ON if either or both of the following is true:
contacts 01-01, 01-02 and 20-01 are closed; and PA1 contacts 01-01, 01-03 and 02-01 are closed.
It should also be noted that the flow of continuity is from left to right. Before writing a program, the address numbers for the inputs, outputs and internal relays must be assigned.
Once the operating program is programmed into the PLC either by a programmer or the programming device, additional instructions relating to functions other than those performed by the operating program must be subsequently programmed into the PLC. These additional functions are sometimes referred to as "secondary functions", and they may include functions such as diagnostics for the operating system or an operator interface program including the display of system operating information. Instructions relating to these secondary operations require additional PLC memory and thus indirectly restrict the primary operating program of the PLC. In addition, this multistep programming of the PLC is inefficient and increases required programmer time and operating system expense.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned limitations of the prior art by providing for the simultaneous loading of the operating program into a PLC with any number of secondary programs such as an operator interface program or a systems diagnostic program. The present invention makes more efficient use of programming time as well as PLC memory to simultaneously load operating program instructions as well as secondary function instructions into a PLC.

Method for using PLC programming information to generate secondary functions such as diagnostics and operator interface


A motor control device includes an electric voltage command value calculation means for inputting an electric current command value every control cycle, calculating an electric current deviation integrated value by integrating an electric current deviation between the electric current command value and an actual electric current value at a coil of a motor, and calculating an electric voltage command value in accordance with the electric current deviation integrated value. The electric voltage command value calculation means controls the electric current deviation integrated value not to exceed a saturation electric voltage value, a value according to the maximum value of the electric voltage outputted from the inverter circuit to the motor.

With a known motor control device for controlling a motor such as a motor for an induction motor, a DC brush motor, and a brushless motor, an electric current command value is inputted from a superior controller every control cycle of a predetermined interval (e.g., 1 ms), an electric voltage command value is calculated based on the electric current command value, and a driving electric voltage according to the electric voltage command value is generated to be supplied to a coil of the motor. With the foregoing known motor control device, an actual electric current at the coil of the motor is detected by an electric current sensor, an electric current deviation between the actual electric current and the electric current command value is obtained, and a predetermined calculation transaction is applied to an integrated value of the electric current deviation (i.e., electric current deviation integrated value) to obtain the electric voltage command value. The electric voltage command value is sent to a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control portion. The PWM control portion generates a PWM pulse by switching a direct current voltage supplied from a direct current power source by a switching element of an inverter circuit to output the PWM pulse to the motor.
In order to simplify the control, generally, the electric current command applied with 3-to-2 phase conversion is inputted in the motor control device and the reverse conversion is applied (2-to-3 phase conversion) when determining the PWM pattern with a three-phase DC motor.
With the known motor control device, the electric current deviation between the actual electric current and the electric current command value is integrated every control cycle to obtain the electric voltage command value based on the integrated value (electric current deviation integrated value). Notwithstanding, the construction of the inverter circuit limits the electric voltage supplied to the motor in accordance with PWM pulse with the known motor control device.
In other words, the electric voltage supplied from the inverter circuit to the motor coil is either an electric voltage (i.e., ON) supplied from the direct current power source or 0V (i.e., OFF) momentarily. Accordingly, with the know motor control device, an objective output electric voltage is obtained as a whole by adjusting an ON time and an OFF time in one control cycle by switching the switching element. In case approximately sine wave formed electric current is supplied to the motor coil, the output electric voltage needs to be adjusted depending on the phase of the motor electric current.
On the other hand, the electric current deviation integrated value may increase irrelevant to the electric voltage (i.e., the average electric voltage of the PWM pulse) supplied to the motor depending on the operational conditions and the load at the motor. This raised a drawback at the control when the motor is suddenly stopped and the rotational direction of the motor rotating with high load is suddenly reversed. For example, in case the operation of the mechanical brake at an emergency stop and the sudden stop of the motor by the contact between the obstacle and a driven member of the motor, the back electromotive force generated by the motor rotation is suddenly vanished. Thus, the overvoltage may be applied by the excessive electric current deviation integrated value to generate the abnormal overcurrent. In case the rotational direction of the motor rotating with high load is suddenly reversed and the rotation of the motor is suddenly decreased, the control is likely to work to rotate the motor at the direction to reduce the electric current deviation integrated value (i.e., the same direction with the previous rotational direction) until the electric current deviation integrated value returns to the normal value, which may generate the delay of the response.
A need thus exists for a motor control device which has a less response delay without generating the abnormality at the sudden motor stop and at the reverse of the motor rotation.

Motor control device and motor control method


A method, apparatus, software and data structure is disclosed for more efficient access times for linear operations in a hash table. A plurality of actual data records and a plurality of marker data records are inserted in a hash table using a hash function. The actual data records and marker data records have a logical ordering specified by a key and are threaded into the hash table to allow linear access by walking the hash table. The logical ordering of the actual data records and marker records is lost upon entry into the hash table, and the keys of the marker data records are distributed at known positions throughout the range of the keys of the actual data records. If when hashing a given key no record exists in the database for the given key, one of the keys for the marker data records are hashed to locate the associated marker data record in the hash table. Distribution of data records according to the hash function is also determined by locating a marker data record in the database and examining the position of adjacent records. The distribution of records provides a measure of performance of the hash table and for tuning of the hash table.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice shall apply to this document: Copyright(copyright) 1999, Microsoft, Inc.
The present invention pertains generally to hash tables, and more particularly to a system for determining the distribution of records in a hash table, and tuning the hash table in response to such determinations.
This application is related to a co-pending application having attorney docket number 777.256US1 Method and Apparatus for Finding Nearest Logical Record in a Hash Table which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, filed on the same day herewith and hereby incorporated by reference.
Linear hash tables optimize access time by evenly distributing records across the underlying table. Ideally, records may be inserted into and accessed with a single hashing operation. Furthermore, it is desirable to use system memory efficiently, to, among other things, optimize the quantity of data that may be held in memory simultaneously. If the hashing function spreads data too sparsely across the hash table index, memory optimization may be diminished. On the other hand, if the data is too closely spaced or xe2x80x9cclumpedxe2x80x9d together, multiple access operations may be required to insert or locate a record. Accordingly, tuning or adjusting the hashing function to achieve better performance is a major goal of hash table design and operation.
The hashing function for any given data structure is thus selected to achieve optimal distribution of records in the hash table. In actual operation, the selected function is often checked for its performance, which may be done as records are initially inserted into the hash table, or later by analysis of the spread of data. Obtaining statistics for this analysis, however, may be cumbersome and time consuming. For example, in the case of a threaded linear hash table, the entire table may need to be xe2x80x9cwalkedxe2x80x9d in order to assess the distribution of data across the table. In the case of large databases, this operation may be time prohibitive to perform with any degree of regularity. Accordingly, there is a need for improved or alternate ways to assess the efficiency of the distribution of records in a hash table.
According to various example embodiments of the invention, there is provided a system for analyzing the efficiency or performance of a hash function by insertion of marker data records with known keys in a hash table together with the actual data records threaded in the hash table, and using the marker data records to analyze the distribution of actual data records around a marker data record.
In one aspect of the invention, the hash table is entered at various markers. A desired number of records is then walked using pointers and recording the index number to the hash table for each record. The index numbers are then analyzed to determine an efficiency of distribution of logically consecutive records. The hashing function may then be tuned based on the distribution as compared to a desired distribution.

Method and apparatus for marking a hash table and using the marking for determining the distribution of records and for tuning


An apparatus that is used to increase traction between the tires of a vehicle and a slippery surface such as snow, ice, sand or mud. The apparatus is easily fitted transversely across the tire tread and tightened about the tire and tire rim by a take up ratchet.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to an apparatus temporarily attachable to vehicle tires to increase traction between the vehicle tires and the surface of a roadway or driveway. The invention is particularly useful when the driving surface is covered with ice or snow, but may also be useful in other adverse conditions, such as mud or sand.
2. Background Art
To improve traction of a vehicle on mud, snow, or ice traction devices are temporarily placed on the tread portion of the tires. Such devices utilize chains, cables, metal rods, metal plates, and even a variety of plastics have been used by the public. However, few of the devices offered to date are easy to install and remove. Most involve the use of a strap buckle, tension springs, or other means that requires the user to pull on the device in order to tighten the device about the tire. In the case of tension springs this means of application and removal is often very difficult because the user lacks the leverage to pull against the spring while crouched low to the ground. Most tension springs require considerable force to apply and remove.
Rookasin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,769 shows a double chain traction surface that is placed transversely across the tire tread, a steel cable that is indirectly attached to the chains, and a one-way gripping cam that locks the cable as the cable is pulled through the cam by the user. The Rookasin device does not possess a ratchet mechanism for tightening the device around the tire. The tightening function must be accomplished by the brute manual pulling, by the user, of the cable through the gripping cam.
Granryd, U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,357 is similar to the Rookasin device except that a snap buckle is used to lock the connecting strap. No levered ratchet is provided to mechanically tighten the strap, rather it must be manually pulled tight by the user. Edwards, U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,514 and Jacob et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,569 are similar to Granryd, except that a more traditional strap buckle is used to secure the strap. Again, no levered ratchet is provided to assist in the actual tightening effort in either device. Bowers, U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,412 shows a tire strap that is wrapped around the tire and through the wheel, and is intended to be disposable, for one-time use only. Fundamentally, the Bowers device is a single plastic strap, much like the clamping strips used by electricians to secure a bundle of loose cables. The plastic strip is pulled through the locking cam. No levered ratchet is provided to assist in the actual tightening effort.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,489,736 to Brundage, U.S. Pat. No. 1,995,758 to Stokke et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 2,066,412 to Meckler all use a tension spring to secure the traction device about the wheel.
Broadly described, the apparatus is a single length of chain that is placed transversely across the tire tread and then secured in place by a strap that is passed through the xe2x80x9cspokesxe2x80x9d of the wheel. The device has a ratchet mechanism that tightens the strap about the wheel as the ratchet lever is cranked back and forth. The principle components are a single chain (or other traction-providing surface, such as a spiked belt) having a length longer than the breadth of the treaded portion of the tire, a holding strap, a tightening strap, and a ratchet tightening and locking mechanism. In the preferred embodiment, the device also has a protective strap or other means to protect the two securing straps from abrasion or unwanted cuts. Each end of the chain or other traction providing means is attached to one end of each securing strap, a take up ratchet is secured to the other end of the holding strap, and the remaining end of the tightening strap is fed through and secured by the ratchet mechanism.
The apparatus is attached to the tire by placing the chain against the tread, and wrapping a strap against each sidewall, passing a longer strap around the xe2x80x9cbackxe2x80x9d of the tire through the wheel, and then placing the longer strap into the ratchet take-up barrel. The take up ratchet is then cranked to tighten the straps and pull the chain snugly in place, and the ratchet is then locked. In the preferred embodiment, the device includes an auxiliary xe2x80x9cprotectivexe2x80x9d strap to prevent the wheel from cutting or damaging the main securing straps. The protective strap promotes the durability of the invention. Alternatively, the tightening strap remains continuously attached to the ratchet mechanism once fed through the ratchet barrel and a quick release link is used, much like a rock climber clip, to attach and release the tightening strap from the chain or traction means surface. This allows the user to quickly apply and release the device about the wheel without the need to feed the tightening strap through the ratchet mechanism before and after every use.
Thus, according to the invention there is provided an apparatus for improving traction of a tire attached to a wheel rim with openings therein, the apparatus comprising at least one traction-providing portion disposable transversely across at least a portion of the breadth of a tread of the tire, a strap take up ratchet, a holding strap disposable through the openings in the wheel rim and having a first end attached to the traction-providing portion and a second end attached to the take up ratchet, and a tightening strap having a first end attached to the traction-providing portion and a second end movably passed through the take up ratchet, the take up ratchet being engageable with the tightening strap. Controlled actuation of the take up ratchet incrementally shortens the length of the tightening strap between the traction-providing portion and the take up ratchet. Preferably, when the take up ratchet is actuated, the holding strap is contactable with the wheel rim, and the invention includes means, attached to the holding strap, for protecting the holding strap against abrasion by the rim. The traction-providing portion preferably comprises at least one chain. The invention preferably further comprises a releasable link connecting the tightening strap to the traction surface, and a releasable link connecting the holding strap to the traction-providing portion. The means for protecting comprises a protective strap, having a width greater than the width of the holding strap. The protective strap preferably comprises woven polyester and further comprising a nylon clip connecting the protective strap to the take up ratchet.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for increasing vehicular tire traction, the apparatus being simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
A primary advantage of the present invention is that it is easily and quickly installed and removed from a tire.
Another advantage of the invention is that the vehicle does not have to be moved to place the apparatus upon a tire.
Another advantage of the invention is that alternative traction surfaces can be applied depending upon different road conditions.
Another advantage of the invention is that it is durable and resists wear and breakage.
Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.


A wall element incorporating idle rollers, presenting a body with seats into which stationary pins carrying idle rollers are snap-fitted; said body presents two parts (22, 30), of which one is the lower base part (22) and the other the upper base part (30), these being structurally separate, but connected together by just the pins (10, 21), which present end portions (15, 15A) transversely wider than adjacent portions (11a, 21a) provided for their snap-fitting into seats (12a,b,c; 22a,b,c) in said two parts (22, 30), said wider portions (15, 15A) abutting against said seats to prevent any movement of said parts (22, 30) in the axial direction of the pins (10, 21).

The present invention relates to a wall element (central or lateral) presenting a body to which stationary pins carrying idly mounted rollers are snap-connected. The element, together with other equal or similar elements, is intended to form central or lateral walls bounding conveying paths for products in general, for example containers (such as bottles, cans, etc.), or their accumulation stations. In the case of central walls, the element presents two parallel rows of idle rollers; in the case of lateral walls, the element presents only one row of idle rollers.
The load-bearing structural part of the known elements is formed from a single moulded piece of plastic material either strong in itself or strengthened by suitable fillers. This structural part comprises an upper and lower base elements and a core which connects them together. In the case of elements for central walls, the cross-section of the load-bearing structural part has an I-shaped configuration, whereas for lateral walls the configuration is C-shaped.
For snap-fitting the roller pins, the lower and upper base elements are provided laterally with seats, of number equal to the number of pins, into which these latter are snap-fitted. The accompanying FIG. 1, relative to a known solution, shows on an enlarged scale a detailed perspective view of a seat and the end of the relative pin. The roller pin 1 is cylindrical, with its end 1a also cylindrical, but of lesser diameter. The load-bearing structural part is in this figure represented by its lower base element 2 (of which only the part concerned is shown), where it presents a tapered lateral lead-in 2a opening into a circular seat of diameter equal to or slightly less than that of the end 1a of the pin. The narrowest (blocking) part 2c of the lead-in 2a is narrower than that of the end of the pin 1, so that the pin can be snap-inserted into the seat 2b with a certain force, by utilizing the elastic deformability of the materials. The pins with the relative rollers are hence adequately retained in the load-bearing structural part of the element.
The known solution can however be improved in the sense of reducing the overall size, the weight and the constructional complexity of the structural part of the element, by eliminating the core joining the lower and upper base elements of the wall element, and using the pins themselves to join the upper and lower base elements so that these become independent parts, i.e. not forming an integral piece.


A set of rail facing strips is provided for use with an article carrying conveyor system, the facing strip set comprising a rail facing member for affixing to opposing conveyor guide rails for establishing at least one section of said conveyor where a conveyor chain is relatively freely removable from the conveyor raceway in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said conveyor, said rail facing member being characterized by a first leg for covering at least a pair of outer surfaces of said guide rail, said facing member also having a second leg joined to said first leg at substantially a right angle thereto, said second leg for extending into said raceway and substantially covering inner edges of said guide rails, said second leg being dimensioned and shaped along its length so as to clear a channel formed in said chain, whereby said second leg permits said body to move transversely out of said raceway without inner tabs found in said chain engaging a portion of said second leg to retain said chain in said raceway, the facing strip set further comprising a modified rail facing member for establishing at least one section where said chain is lockingly retained in said raceway by extending into said channel to retain said leg in said raceway.

Devices using a flexible chain, belt, or other transporting surface guided along a conveyor path for moving articles from one point to another are known in the art. A conveyor path is typically laid out or defined by structural members, such as girders establishing a raceway formed along their length for supporting a chain. Drive units, such as a sprocket drive, are disposed along the path for engaging teeth formed in said chain to move said chain along said path. Articles to be conveyed sit on this chain, which may also have cleats or other suitable structure for gripping or catching the articles to be conveyed.
The chain is typically composed of a series of chain links suitable, joined together to form a looped or endless conveying surface that is flexible or articulated to be capable of passing through both vertical and horizontal curves. An example of such a chain is shown in Lachonius, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,492.
Lachonius U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,031 shows a conveyor said to be comprised of easily mountable girder sections. A conveyor chain 1 is driven and guided in an open track on girder 2. Girder 2 is symmetrical about a horizontal plane, whereby belt 1 returns on the opposite or under side of the girder 2. Strips of plastic material (see U.K. Patent Application No. 2,172,870A) provide bearing surfaces along which the belt moves. Two or more girders may be interconnected.
A problem with the Lachonius device is that the belt 1 is fixedly retained in the track by supporting members or ears formed in the girders that extend inwardly from both sides of the open track to retain said chain. This is necessary because the chain must be restrained against gravity in the return raceway on the bottom track of the girder or in vertical and horizontal curves. Accordingly, if the chain needs to be removed for repair, replacement, or cleaning, either the end of the conveyor path must be available or the entire girder structure broken apart, and the chain must somehow be broken or separated at one point in the endless loop and pulled out sufficiently to reach the trouble spot. When the chain is to be reinserted, it must be laboriously threaded back in. Because conveyor systems can easily reach several hundred feet in length, such a procedure can be awkward, time consuming, and costly.

Article carrying conveyor and wearstrip set therefor


A method of inhibiting proliferation of immortal cells or cells that express telomerase is disclosed. The method includes introduction of synthetic oligonucleotides which mimic telomere motifs. Quite surprisingly applicant has demonstrated that a single telomere motif, TTAGGG exhibits greater cellular uptake and higher inhibition of proliferation than longer oligonucleotides, which were previously thought to be necessary to achieve sequence specific interaction with telomerase.

There are an estimated 200 different kinds of cancer, each of which has the common property of uncontrolled growth of neoplastic cells derived from normal tissues. More than 900,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States and there are 600,000 deaths from cancer each year.
Despite considerable success in the treatment of several specific tumors, the overall survival rate for most cancers has not changed dramatically over the past few years. Surgery in combination with chemotherapy has proved successful in treatment of early localized disease, but the development of clinical metastases, or spread of cancer to distal sites, remains the primary cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. Metastatic disease is incurable with a median survival of 2.2 years from the time of documented metastases.
The major problem in anti-neoplastic therapy is the ability of therapeutic agents to distinguish neoplastic from normal cells. Attempts to distinguish neoplastic from normal cells on the basis of proliferative behavior has proven quite limited. Thus the search has continued for biochemical characteristics of neoplastic cells that are tumor specific rather than proliferation specific. Unfortunately current molecular genetic studies have failed to support the hope that such characteristics are a consistent feature of neoplastic cells. Rather the studies suggest that the neoplastic state can be explained without postulating tumor-specific functions, but merely by the operation of normal proliferation-specific functions at abnormal levels, as the result of changes (often times minimal) in the structure of growth-regulator genes or changes in their number or chromosomal environment. The search for attributes of neoplastic cells which can provide for selective treatment continues.
Current trends and treatments for cancer have included alternative approaches that do not depend on the natural occurrence of such biochemical differences. One alternative strategy entails the artificial creation of differences between normal and neoplastic cells through prophylactic use of gene insertion techniques. In other words the manufacturing of biochemical differences which can be exploited to systematically and specifically target neoplastic cells for destruction. This type of protocol is highly complex, controversial, and unpredictable.
Perhaps the most successful of these protocols includes the transduction of tumor cells with a sequence encoding for the Herpes Simplex I thymidine kinase gene combined with subsequent treatment with an anti-viral agent (such as gancyclovir) to selectively kill tumor cells which express the gene. This type of gene therapy is fraught with controversy and problems and it's development is only in its infancy.
Thus a need exists in the art for a simple anti-neoplastic therapy which takes advantage of naturally occurring biochemical differences between neoplastic and normal cells so that these cells can be selectively targeted and destroyed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple method for inducing cell death and inhibiting the uncontrolled proliferative behavior of cancerous and other cells which represent disease states with uncontrolled growth and replication.
It is another object of the present invention to provide anti-proliferative agents and pharmaceutical compositions for selective destruction of neoplastic cells.

Synthetic oligonucleotides which mimic telomeric sequences for use in treatment of cancer and other diseases

The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska


In a semiconductor wafer that has semiconductor devices arranged in a plurality of device-formation-regions and a TEG placed in dividing regions that define the device-formation-regions, a TEG-placement portion is arranged in the dividing regions partially expanded in width, and the TEG is placed in the TEG-placement portion. Additionally, a protective sheet is stuck to the semiconductor wafer, then plasma etching is performed, and the TEG is removed in a state where it remains in the dividing region and stuck to the protective sheet together with the protective sheet by peeling off the protective sheet, thereby the device-formation-regions are divided into individual pieces, and the semiconductor chips are manufactured.

Conventionally, various methods for manufacturing a plurality of semiconductor chips by dividing such a semiconductor wafer have been known. For example, a method is known of collectively forming semiconductor devices in a plurality of device-formation-regions provided on a wafer of single-crystal silicon or the like, mechanically cutting (i.e., by dicing) the wafer along dividing regions located between adjacent device-formation-regions and manufacturing semiconductor chips by individualizing the device-formation regions.
Moreover, in such a wafer, an evaluation device (test device) that is called a Test Element Group (TEG) is formed in the dividing regions. In various processes of the semiconductor chip manufacturing process, the actual device characteristics are monitored by investigating various characteristics by means of the thus-formed TEG.
Moreover, it is often the case where such a TEG is formed of a material that contains various kinds of metals and inorganic substances besides silicon and silicon oxide that are generally the principal materials of the wafer. Moreover, the formed TEG becomes unnecessary after the various characteristics are investigated, and the TEG is removed by cutting (or dicing) in the stage of wafer dicing along the dividing regions.
Although shrinkage (narrowing) of the dividing region has been promoted to increase the number of semiconductor chips obtainable per a wafer or to expand the device-formation-regions in recent years, there is a limitation in narrowing the width of the TEG formation region from the viewpoint of reliably carrying out various electrical measurements. Therefore, the dividing regions are narrowed by reducing a gap between the edge portion of the TEG formation region and the edge portion of the dividing regions.
On the other hand, generating minute fragments (chipping) or generating minute cracks (microcracks) is easily caused by impacts during cutting by a blade during wafer dicing, and therefore, it is necessary to carry out the cutting by the blade in a position located apart from the device-formation-region by some degree. Therefore, if the narrowing of the dividing regions as described above is promoted, the TEG cannot completely be removed by the cutting. If the TEG remains partially unremoved, short circuiting or the like occurs due to the contact of the TEG with the wiring pattern when the semiconductor chip is mounted, and thus it is a concern that the problem of circuit failure might occur.
In order to suppress the occurrence of these problems, various methods have been considered as a method for removing the TEG by cutting, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2002-231659 and No. 2001-60568.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Manufacturing method for semiconductor chips and semiconductor wafer


Generating image data of an object using a particle beam includes arranging at least one mark in the object or in a support material in which the object is embedded, determining a first examination region, exposing the first examination region by removing material of at least one of: the object and the support material, guiding a first particle beam over the first examination region, and acquiring image data of the first examination region using at least one detector by detecting interaction particles and/or interaction radiation due to an interaction of the first particle beam with the first examination region. Generating image data of an object using a particle beam may also include introducing the object into a support material in such a way that the object is partly or completely surrounded by the support material. A second examination region of the object may be determined relative to the mark.

Electron beam devices, in particular a scanning electron microscope (SEM) or a transmission electron microscope (TEM), are used to examine objects so as to obtain information in respect of the properties and behavior of these objects under certain circumstances.
In the case of an SEM, an electron beam (also referred to as primary electron beam below) is generated by means of a beam generator. The electrons in the primary electron beam are accelerated to a predeterminable energy and focused by a beam guidance system, in particular an objective lens, onto an object to be analyzed (a sample to be analyzed). A high-voltage source with a predeterminable acceleration voltage is used in the SEM for acceleration purposes. The primary electron beam is guided in a grid-shaped manner over a surface of the object to be analyzed by means of a deflection apparatus. Here, the electrons in the primary electron beam interact with the material of the object to be analyzed. In particular, interaction particles and/or interaction radiation is/are generated as a result of the interaction. By way of example, electrons are emitted from the object to be analyzed (so-called secondary electrons) and electrons from the primary electron beam are back-scattered at the object to be analyzed (so-called backscattered electrons). The secondary electrons and the backscattered electrons are detected and used for generating an image. An image of the object to be analyzed is obtained thus.
Imaging the object to be analyzed is one possible way of analyzing the object to be analyzed. However, further forms of analysis are known by all means. By way of example, the interaction radiation (in particular x-ray radiation or cathodoluminescence) is detected and analyzed in order to be able to draw conclusions about the composition of the object to be analyzed.
Furthermore, the prior art has disclosed the use of combination devices for processing and/or analyzing an object; in these, both electrons and ions can be guided onto an object to be processed and/or to be analyzed. By way of example, the practice of additionally equipping an SEM with an ion beam column is known. An ion beam generator arranged in the ion beam column is used to generate ions, which are used for processing an object (e.g. ablating a layer of the object or applying material onto the object) or else for imaging purposes. Here, the SEM serves, in particular, for observing the processing, but also for the further analysis of the processed or non-processed object.
Furthermore, the prior art has disclosed a particle beam device comprising a first particle beam column with a first beam axis, wherein the first particle beam column is embodied to generate a first particle beam. Additionally, the known particle beam device comprises a second particle beam column, which is provided with a second beam axis and embodied to generate a second particle beam. The first particle beam column and the second particle beam column are arranged in such a way in relation to one another that the first beam axis and the second beam axis include a first angle of approximately 50° to 60°. Furthermore, the known particle beam device has an object support which is rotatable about an axis of rotation. By way of example, the axis of rotation extends through the center of the object support. Furthermore, the axis of rotation includes a second angle with the first beam axis and a third angle with the second beam axis. An object on an object holder can be arranged on the object support, wherein the object has an object face to be processed and/or to be analyzed. The object holder is arranged above the object support along the axis of rotation.
In a known method, use is likewise made of both a first particle beam (ion beam) and a second particle beam (electron beam). The first particle beam is guided substantially perpendicularly to a marking surface of the object to be examined. Two longitudinal marks, arranged in a V-shaped manner in relation to a longitudinal axis of the object and intersecting at a point of the marking surface, are applied to the marking surface. Furthermore, by means of the first particle beam, provision is made for a layer of the object to be removed by scanning the first particle beam perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the object. As a result of this, a surface which is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the object (i.e. parallel to the first particle beam) is exposed. In a further step, the second particle beam impinges on the exposed surface. The interaction particles generated in the process are detected. The detection signals generated during the detection are used for imaging and the image data obtained thus are stored. The aforementioned method steps are repeated to expose further surfaces of the object to be examined and to obtain image data for the further surfaces. The stored image data of the various exposed surfaces are combined to form a three-dimensional image data record of the object in a subsequent process step.
In respect of the prior art, reference is made in an exemplary manner to DE 10 2008 041 815 A1, DE 10 2007 026 847 A1, EP 1 443 541 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,312,448 B2.
The known particle beam devices from the prior art are used e.g. to carry out series examinations of an object. In particular, this is understood to mean that the object surface of an object is initially processed in a first step using the first particle beam. By way of example, material is ablated from the object face or material is deposited onto the object face. For the purposes of processing the object face, the object support is brought into a first position relative to the first particle beam column. The object face is subsequently processed using the first particle beam. In a second step, the processed object face is analyzed by means of the second particle beam. To this end, the object support is brought into a second position relative to the second particle beam column. The processed object face is subsequently analyzed. By way of example, the processed object face is imaged by means of the second particle beam. Provision is now made in the series examination for a multiple change between the first step and the second step. By way of example, the first position and the second position can be identical in this case. In this case, the second particle beam impinges e.g. obliquely onto the processed object face.
Moreover, the prior art has disclosed an x-ray microscope, in which an object is analyzed by means of x-ray beams. The interaction of the object with the x-ray beams is measured and evaluated. A representation of the object is obtained thus. A three-dimensional representation of the object can also be produced by means of the x-ray microscope. In respect of the prior art, reference is made in an exemplary manner to U.S. Pat. No. 7,561,662 B2 and the publication "Metrology of 3-D IC with X-ray Microscopy and Nano-scale X-ray CT" by Wang et al. in IEEE 2009.
Furthermore, the prior art has disclosed a confocal laser scanning microscope. Using the known confocal laser scanning microscope, a small region of an object to be analyzed is examined by means of a laser beam, wherein the laser beam is guided over the object in a grid-shaped manner. A representation of the object is calculated and displayed by evaluating the interaction of the laser beam with the object (in particular by means of measuring light reflected at, or transmitted through, the object or by means of fluorescence). In respect of the prior art, reference is made in an exemplary manner to the publication "Orthogonal-plane fluorescence optical sectioning: three-dimensional imaging of macroscopic biological specimens" by Voie et al. (Journal of Microscopy, volume 170, part 3, June 1993). Furthermore, WO 2010/136319 A1 has disclosed a combination of a particle beam device with a so-called SPI microscope (selective plane illumination microscope), which is used for correlative optical microscopy and particle beam microscopy. Moreover, WO 2012/080363 A1 has disclosed a method for automated imaging of predefined areas in section series, in which artificial structures in the form of bores are introduced into a still uncut object in order to simplify a subsequent reconstruction of the image of the object in 3-D.
For some objects to be examined, it is desirable for these objects to be analyzed to be examined with as many of the existing analysis methods and analysis devices as possible in order to collect as much information about the objects to be analyzed as possible.
It is therefore desirable to be able to examine an object in a simple manner with a plurality of analysis methods and analysis devices.

Method for generating image data relating to an object and particle beam device for carrying out this method


A pincushion includes an inner container, a cushioning material, a flexible sheet material, an elastic ring member and a cylindrical outer cover. The inner container has a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion standing upright from the bottom wall portion. The side wall portion has an opening at its upper part. The cushioning material is provided in the inner container. The sheet material covers part of the cushioning material that projects upward from the opening of the side wall portion. The ring member is fitted onto the side wall portion of the inner container with the hem of the sheet material interposed between the ring member and the side wall portion. The outer cover is fitted around the side wall portion of the inner container such that its inner face is in contact with the elastic ring member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pincushion.
2. Description of Related Art
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,967, for example, pincushions have a basic configuration in which a resiliently compressed cushioning material such as cotton, wool, or sponge is wrapped in a cloth to form a rounded soft pincushion face, and are used to hold needles for handicrafts in a state where the needles are stuck into the pincushion face.
According to the pincushion described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,967, the shape of the pincushion surface is adjusted by fitting a ring onto a hem of the cloth wrapping the cushioning material, and auxiliary rings for fixing are put on the upper side and the lower side of the ring in an overlapping manner in order to prevent the ring from coming off in the vertical direction. The vertical positions of the upper rings are fixed by pulling downward a wire whose end is pasted to a bottom plate, and the vertical position of the lower auxiliary ring is fixed by pasting it to the circumferential portion of the bottom plate.
The configuration of the pincushion described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,967 cannot be easily disassembled. Thus, when a needle for handicrafts is completely buried below the cushioning material surface, it is difficult to pull out the needle. Furthermore, it is also difficult to have fun by replacing the cloth forming the pincushion surface with a cloth having a user's favorite color or pattern.


Mechanisms are disclosed for incorporating prototype information into probabilistic models for automated information processing, mining, and knowledge discovery. Examples of these models include Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) models, and the like. The prototype information injects prior knowledge to such models, thereby rendering them more accurate, effective, and efficient. For instance, in the context of automated word labeling, additional knowledge is encoded into the models by providing a small set of prototypical words for each possible label. The net result is that words in a given corpus are labeled and are therefore in condition to be summarized, identified, classified, clustered, and the like.

Vast amount of data currently exists in various types of media, be it storage, transmission, and the like. However, it is often times difficult to automatically extract meaningful and useful information, given the sheer quantity of any given data set. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide mechanisms for mining this data, where these mechanisms are configured to summarize, identify, classify, and/or cluster such data for a defined purpose. By way of example and not limitation, the task of labeling words in sentences with the objective of automatic summarization, identification, classification, and/or clustering, presents especially challenging problems that to this day have not been resolved in an accurate, effective, and efficient manner.

Adding prototype information into probabilistic models


A vehicle lift control maintains multiple points of a lift system within the same horizontal plane during vertical movement of the lift engagement structure by synchronizing the movement thereof. A vertical trajectory is compared to actual positions to generate a raise signal. A position synchronization circuit synchronizes the vertical actuation of the moveable lift components by determining a proportional-integral error signal.

This invention relates generally to vehicle lifts and their controls, and more particularly to a vehicle lift control adapted for maintaining multiple points of a lift system within the same horizontal plane during vertical movement of the lift superstructure by synchronizing the movement thereof. The invention is disclosed in conjunction with a hydraulic fluid control system, although equally applicable to an electrically actuated system.
There are a variety of vehicle lift types which have more than one independent vertically movable superstructure. Examples of such lifts are those commonly referred to as two post and four post lifts. Other examples of such lifts include parallelogram lifts, scissors lifts and portable lifts. The movement of the superstructure may be linear or non-linear, and may have a horizontal motion component in addition to the vertical movement component. As defined by the Automotive Lift Institute ALI ALCTV-1998 standards, the types of vehicle lift superstructures include frame engaging type, axle engaging type, roll on/drive on type and fork type. As used herein, superstructure includes all vehicle lifting interfaces between the lifting apparatus and the vehicle, of any configuration now known or later developed.
Such lifts include respective actuators for each independently moveable superstructure to effect the vertical movement. Although typically the actuators are hydraulic, electromechanical actuators, such as a screw type, are also used.
Various factors affect the vertical movement of superstructures, such as unequal loading, wear, and inherent differences in the actuators, such as hydraulic components for hydraulically actuated lifts. Differences in the respective vertical positions of the independently superstructures can pose significant problems. Synchronizing the vertical movement of each superstructure in order to maintain them in the same horizontal plane requires precisely controlling each respective actuator relative to the others to match the vertical movements, despite the differences which exist between each respective actuator.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Method and apparatus for synchronizing a vehicle lift


Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to the data storage field and hard disk drives (HDD) using microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) technology. Aspects of the preferred embodiments are to prevent the breakdown of spin torque oscillators (STO) due to large amounts of current flowing through the STO during head/disk contact. A magnetic head slider is disposed above and spaced apart from a disk. A STO is formed on a section of the magnetic head slider. Two electrodes are coupled to the STO, and one electrode has a higher potential than the other electrode. A preamplifier is adapted to send a current through the two electrodes, resulting in the higher potential electrode protruding closer to the disk than the lower potential electrode. Current then flows from one electrode to the disk without flowing through the STO, and breakdown of the STO is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to the data storage field, and more particularly, relate to a method, apparatus, and system for implementing enhanced electric damage prevention of spin-torque oscillator (STO) for hard disk drives (HDDs) using microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a HDD or a disk-drive system or magnetic recording system, read and write elements are located in a head slider of a magnetic head, which flies over a recording media or a disk surface. The fly-height of the slider-to-disk has become smaller as storage densities continue to increase. In recent years, MAMR technology has been developed in order to increase the recording density of a HDD. MAMR technology performs magnetic recording using a microwave assisted effect generated by a STO incorporated in the head slider.
The STO is connected to two electrodes in the head slider, which are a lower potential side electrode and a higher potential side electrode. Both electrodes are formed near the surface of the head slider, facing a disk. The STO is biased by a preamplifier (preamp), which is located in the HDD. The preamp controls the potential of the electrodes, and allows current to flow through the STO.
However, when the head slider contacts the disk or magnetic recording medium while current is flowing through the STO, breakdown of the STO can be caused. The breakdown of the STO is a large issue for HDD using MAMR technology. After repeated use, the breakdown process of the STO typically happens in the following manner: first, the lower potential side electrode, which is the lowest point of the head slider, contacts the disk. A large amount of current then flows from the higher potential side electrode, through the STO to the lower potential side electrode, and finally to the disk. The STO is broken by the large amount of current that consistently flows through the system.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a MAMR head structure and a preamp circuit with electric damage protection to prevent breakdown of the STO.

Head structure with electric damage protection for a microwave-assisted hard disk drive


The present invention provides a resin composition containing: (A) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 mol % or more and 50 mol % or less; (B) an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 30 mol % or more and 60 mol % or less; and (C) an unsaturated aldehyde, a value obtained by subtracting the ethylene content of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) from the ethylene content of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (B) being 8 mol % or more, a mass ratio (A/B) of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) to the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (B) being 60/40 or more and 95/5 or less, and the content of the unsaturated aldehyde (C) with respect to a resin content being 0.01 ppm or more and less than 100 ppm.

Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as "EVOH(s)") are useful polymeric materials that are superior in barrier properties against various types of gases such as oxygen, oil resistance, antistatic properties, mechanical strength and the like; therefore, EVOHs have been molded into films, sheets, containers, packaging materials and the like, and widely used as various types of packaging materials. However, the EVOH has a large number of hydroxyl groups in its molecule, and has high crystallinity, a great velocity of crystallization and poor flexibility; therefore, the EVOH has disadvantages that: the EVOH exhibits poor suitability for secondary processing, in particular, heat stretching properties when being molded into packaging materials for foods and the like, leading to the generation of cracks in the molding, and in turn, to a decrease of a process yield of products; and a reduction of mechanical strength due to a thickness variation and/or deterioration of gas barrier properties occur(s), leading to lack of quality stability.
In order to improve the suitability for secondary processing, blending various types of elastomers such as an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) into the EVOH has been proposed. However, these elastomers have a disadvantage that they have poor compatibility with the EVOH and therefore the resultant composition may have reduced transparency.
In view of such drawbacks, as a method for improving the transparency while ensuring the suitability for secondary processing, a process including blending EVOHs each having a different ethylene content has been developed. Specifically investigated examples include the following: a resin composition that contains two types of saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, one having a degree of saponification of 95 mol % or more and the other having a degree of saponification of 70 mol % or more, and a polyamide resin in which a terminal carboxyl group is adjusted (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. H8-239528); a resin composition that contains EVOH having a degree of saponification of 98 mol % or more, and EVOH having a reduced degree of saponification through reacetylation (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2000-212369); and a resin composition that contains three types of EVOHs each having a different ethylene content (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2001-31821).
However, according to the aforementioned conventional technologies, the transparency and the heat stretching properties are improved, but due to the use of the polyamide resin or the reacetylated EVOH, they have disadvantages that: a property for operation for a long time period (long-run workability) is poor; the generation of gels and seeds (dirt under paint) is increased in a long-run operation; and the like. In addition, in such a method involving using different EVOHs, flow marks, which are not typically generated in a single-EVOH system, are generated, and in particular significantly generated in a long-run operation. The flow marks are generated when the difference of viscosity is caused between two types of EVOHs in an operation for a long time period, leading to an unstable flow that occurs at a front part of the flow ("flow front" as generally referred to), in the melt molding. These flow marks as well as coloring are causes for unfavorable appearance in the resultant products.

Ethylene-vinyl alcohol resin composition, multilayer sheet, packaging material, and container


Provided are a cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound represented by Formula 1 below and an organic light emitting device employing the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound and an organic light emitting device employing the same, and more particularly, to an aromatic amine compound including cyclopentaphenanthrene and an organic light emitting device including an organic layer having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic light emitting devices are active light emitting display devices that emit light by recombination of electrons and holes in a thin layer made of a fluorescent or phosphorescent organic compound (an organic layer) when a current is applied to the organic layer. The organic light emitting devices have advantages such as lightweight, simple constitutional elements, easy fabrication process, superior image quality and wide viewing angle. Furthermore, the organic light emitting devices can accomplish perfect creation of dynamic images and high color purity. The organic light emitting devices also have electrical properties suitable for portable electronic equipment such as low power consumption and low driving voltage.
A multi-layered organic light emitting device using an aluminum quinolinol complex layer and a triphenylamine derivative layer was developed by Eastman Kodak Co. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,211), and a wide range of light from ultraviolet lights to infrared lights can be emitted using low-molecular weight materials when an organic emitting layer is formed (U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,629).
Light emitting devices, which are self light emitting display devices, have wide viewing angles, excellent contrast and quick response. Light emitting devices are classified into inorganic light emitting devices using inorganic compounds to form emitting layers and organic light emitting devices (OLED) using organic compounds to form emitting layers. Organic light emitting devices have higher brightness, lower driving voltages and quicker responses than inorganic light emitting devices and can realize multi colors. Thus, organic light emitting devices have been actively studied.
Typically, an organic light emitting device has an anode/organic emitting layer/cathode structure. An organic light emitting device can also have various other structures, such as an anode/hole injection layer/hole transport layer/emitting layer/electron transport layer/electron injection layer/cathode structure or an anode/hole injection layer/hole transport layer/emitting layer/hole blocking layer/electron transport layer/electron injection layer/cathode structure.
Materials that are used in organic light emitting devices can be classified into vacuum deposited materials and solution coated materials according to a method of preparing an organic layer. The vacuum deposited materials may have a vapor pressure of 10−6 torr or greater at the temperature of 500° C. or less and be low molecular materials having a molecular weight of 1200 or less. The solution coated materials may be highly soluble in solvents to be prepared in solution phase, and include aromatic or heterocyclic groups.
When an organic light emitting device is manufactured by vacuum deposition, costs may be increased due to expensive vacuum systems and high resolution pixels may not be easily manufactured if a shadow mask is used to prepare pixels for a natural color display. On the other hand, an organic light emitting device can be easily and inexpensively manufactured using solution coating such as inkjet printing, screen printing and spin coating and can have relatively high resolution compared to when using a shadow mask.
Meanwhile, when an organic light emitting device is operated or stored at a high temperature, emitting light may be changed, light emitting efficiency may be reduced, driving voltages may be increased, and lifetime may be shortened. In order to prevent those problems, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of hole injecting materials, hole transporting materials and emitting materials. In order to have high Tg, molecules of the materials have many aromatic groups which cause crystallization of the molecules 11 during the formation of a thin film and the crystallization may cause defects in the thin film. Meanwhile, the high Tg increases sumlimation temperature and the lifetime of organic light emitting devices may be decreased due to decomposition of materials during deposition or ununiform deposition.
Japanese Patent Publication No. hei 5-234681 discloses N,N-diphenyl-N,N-di(1-naphtyl)-1,1-biphenyl-4,4-diamine (NPD) having a higher Tg than N,N-diphenyl-N,N-dimethylphenyl-1,1-biphenyl-4,4-diamine (TPD) which has been commonly used in the art as a hole transporting material to improve thermal stability by introducing a condensed aromatic ring into a molecule.

Cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound and organic light emitting device employing the same

Abstract: Here, Y and Ar are described in the detailed description.

Maetan-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Nongseo-Dong, Giheung-Gu, Yongin, Gyunggi-Do


Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for performing a secure delete operation in a wide area network (WAN) including a cache site and a home site. A method includes identifying a file for deletion at the cache site, determining whether the file has a copy stored at the home site, detecting a location of the copy at the home site prior to a disconnection event of the cache site from the home site, deleting the file from the cache site during the disconnection event, and in response to the secure deletion of the file not being complete during the disconnection event, indicating on a table a remote inode number assigned to the copy associated with the file at the home site, a name under which the copy is saved, and a list of data chunk tuples specifying selected data of the copy to undergo secure deletion.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to wide area networks, and more particularly, to secure deletion of data after long term disconnection between cache and remote nodes included in wide area networks.
Description of the Related Art
Cloud computing is a paradigm in which tasks are assigned to a combination of connections, software, and services that are accessed over a network of servers and connections collectively known as "the cloud." The cloud allows sharing of large amounts of file data in a consistent, efficient, and reliable manner across a wide-area network (WAN). WAN data storage systems include cluster file systems in operable communication with "clusters" of interconnected independent nodes working together to act as a single system. A cluster file system manages data stored within a cluster (also called "home site") and provides client nodes with access to all files located on storage devices in the file system.
The cluster generally stores and sources data, while the client nodes include cache sites that cache data fetched from the cluster locally. For example, during operation when a client application tries to access any file for the first time, the file is fetched from the cluster and copied to the cache site thereby reducing use of WAN bandwidth.

Secure deletion operations in a wide area network

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A microcomputer-based device that performs the functions of motor starting and overload protection. The starter function is customized for a particular application by storing program steps representing the input command and output control logic peculiar to a given motor in a programmable, non-volatile memory cell. Each set of program steps, which the microcomputer executes, compose an expandable library of such sets representing the different motor circuit applications available for configuring a starter to match its particular application. A configuration can be changed by simply loading into memory the appropriate set of program steps from the library and changing the labels of the inputs and outputs to match the new application.

The invention relates to the protection and control of electric motors and, more particularly, to multi function programmable device which provides motor starting regulation, an input-output interface with a motor, motor overload protection, motor diagnostics and motor statistical data.
A motor starter is a control device which functions to start, accelerate, and stop an electric motor by causing the various windings of the motor to be connected to, or disconnected from, a source of electric power in response to manual or automatic commands. In addition to controlling the connection of power to the motor by means of contactors, the starter typically provides annunciator functions, such as visible status indication in the form of pilot lights. Each output, whether controlling a contactor or a pilot light, as well as each output, whether by contact, pushbutton, or switch, is binary in nature.
Motor starter logic has been implemented with electromechanical relays wired together according to a particular application. Relays, however, are large and relatively expensive. Consequently, logic circuitry using solid-state components began to replace wired-relay logic in some applications. Both of these techniques are still widely used, but are relatively inflexible. In the case of wired-relay logic, different applications may require expensive labor-intensive operations, such as rewiring and repositioning of the relays. In the case of solid-state logic, different applications may require either modification of a circuit or replaced with a different version of logic. In both cases, the lack of flexibility forces the manufacturer of the starter to build and stock different versions of starters for different applications. Each version may differ from another in the quantity, layout, and interconnection of components. Different manufacturing requirements for each version frequently result in problems of quality control. It is inconvenient, difficult, and costly to control the quality of many different versions of a motor starter.
The problem of inflexibility has been approached with the use of programmable devices. Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are devices, usually containing a digital processor and a program memory, designed to make decisions based on successive single-bit information. The program steps stored in memory replace the combinatorial logic of solid-state and the wired logic of relay-type starters. Each input and output may be programmed to perform a particular control function. As the application changes, the generic inputs and outputs can be reassigned and the sequential steps reprogrammed. One problem with PLCs, as applied to the function of motor starting, is that the cost of a PLC is difficult to justify in simple starter applications requiring only a few inputs and outputs.
In addition to PLCs, relatively low-cost programmable integrated circuits designed for use in simple starter applications are available. One problem with these circuits is that the necessary supporting circuitry elevates the cost to unattractive levels relative to the cost of wired-relay solutions. The same can be said for any application using general-purpose programmable devices, such as microcomputers. If, however, a device could combine the function of motor starting with the function of overload protection such a device would prove useful and cost effective in many applications.
Overload relays are dedicated circuit protection devices designed to interrupt the flow of current in an electric circuit upon the detection of undesirable current levels over a period of time. Such current levels can lead to serious damage to a motor through the excessive heating of the motor windings. Upon detection of an overload condition, the overload relay outputs a trip command to a circuit opening mechanism, such as a contactor, which disconnects the load from its power source. Many applications using motor starters also require motor overload protection. For such applications, an overload relay is typically connected into the motor starter circuit and housed in the same control unit enclosure containing the starter.
The most common overload relays are of the thermal type, which include a heater element through which the load current flows and a bimetallic strip that deforms as it is heated by the heater. If heated sufficiently, the bimetallic strip deforms to such an extent that it forces open a contact, which commands the contactor to open the motor circuit. One problem with thermal overload relays is that a supply of different heating elements must be maintained to adjust the relays for different load conditions. In practice, few, if any, extra heater elements are available when needed. Furthermore, any adjustments made are in discrete steps that depend on the ratings of the available heaters.
Electronic overload relays containing microcomputers, which measure the load current by means of current transformers and calculate the heating therefrom, avoid the adjustment problem of thermal devices, but at a greater cost. Even the low-cost electronic overload relays, however, allow only a few parameters to be adjusted. Furthermore, the tripping characteristics of the electronic devices are designed to emulate the tripping characteristics of a thermal relay, instead of being designed such that the motor is more accurately controlled. To keep the cost of simple electronic overload relays competitive with the cost of thermal devices, inexpensive, low-performance microcomputers have been used. The cost of overload devices using higher-performance microcomputers cannot be justified for simple applications, therefor it would be desirable to combine the overload function with other needed functions.


Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent element which can be produced by a wet process, has improved laminated structure, and also has improved external quantum efficiency and an improved service life. The organic electroluminescent element comprises at least an anode; a cathode and a laminated structure intercalated between the anode and the cathode, all of which are arranged on a substrate, wherein the laminated structure has at least four layers formed by a wet process, and wherein the layers produced by the wet process include at least a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer and a light-emitting layer. The organic electroluminescent element is characterized in that the hole injection layer comprises an electrically conductive polymer, the hole transport layer comprises a polymeric compound having a repeating unit represented by general formula (1), and the polymeric compound has a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 200,000 in terms of polystyrene content.

Conventionally, an emission type electronic display device includes an electroluminescence display (hereinafter, referred to as an ELD). A constituent element of an ELD includes such as an inorganic electroluminescence element (hereinafter, referred to as an inorganic EL element) and an organic electroluminescence element (hereinafter, referred to as an organic EL element).
An inorganic EL element has been utilized as a flat light source, however, it requires a high voltage of alternating current to operate an emission element
On the other hand, an organic EL element is an element provided with a constitution comprising an light emitting layer containing a light emitting substance being sandwiched with a cathode and an anode, and an exciton is generated by an electron and a hole being injected into the emitting layer to be recombined, resulting light emission utilizing light release (fluorescence-phosphorescence) at the time of deactivation of said exciton; the light emission is possible at a voltage of approximately a few to a few tens volts, and an organic EL element is attracting attention with respect to such as superior viewing angle and high visual recognition due to a self-emission type as well as space saving and portability due to a completely solid element of a thin layer type.
Moreover, an organic EL device has a distinctive feature of being a surface light, which is different from the main light sources, for example, a light-emitting diode and a cold cathode tube having been conventionally used. As applications which can effectively utilize this property, there are a light source for illumination and a back light of various displays. Especially, it is suitable to use as a back light of a liquid crystal full color display the demand of which has been increased remarkably in recent years.
When an organic EL element is used as a light source for illumination or a back light of a display, the used light source is required to emit a white light or an electric bulb color (hereafter they are called as a white color).
The following ways are known to achieve in obtaining a white light: a method to laminate B/G/R three light emitting layers or B/Y two light emitting layers which are in complementary color relation (for example, refer to Patent document 1); a method in which multicolor emission pixels, for example, three color of blue, green, and red, are provided by coating separately, and these pixels are made to emit a light simultaneously to obtain a white light by mixing (for example, a combination of a blue luminescent material and a color conversion fluorescent dye); and a method of adjusting several luminescent materials each having a different emission wavelength in one element to obtain a white light by mixing.
However, there was a problem that a luminescent color will change when laminating a plurality light emitting layers each emitting a different color light, because a light-emitting position would shift by the change of the driving electric current or by the chronological change in continuous driving. Moreover, the method of providing multicolor emission pixels by coating separately has a problem of using complicated manufacturing processes, such as positioning a mask, and its production yield is not good. Further, there is a problem that luminous efficiency is low by a color conversion mode.
A method of stopping the slippage of a light-emitting position is proposed to resolve these problems by making all the luminescent materials intermingled in a single light emitting layer. However, if luminescent materials are intermingled, energy transfer will occur by the difference in the luminescence energy level of each luminescent material.
Moreover, there is described a method of improving efficiency using the energy transfer between the luminescent materials which exist together in the same layer (for example, refer to Patent document 2). However, according to this method, even if the luminescent materials in which luminescent colors differ are mixed, only one luminescent material emits light, and it is not suitable for obtaining a white light.
That is, in order to obtain desirable white luminescence by a single light emitting layer, white luminescence cannot be obtained by making the ratio of the luminescent materials to be the same as incorporated in a multilayered constitution. The content of the luminescent material having a low luminescence energy level must be adjusted to be a small quantity compared to the content of the luminescent material having a high luminescence energy level, and control of material ratio is difficult when the element is produced by a vacuum evaporation.
On the other hand, as a production method of an organic EL element, there are wet processes (for example, a spin coat method, a cast method, an ink-jet method, a spray method, and a printing method). In recent years, a production method of a wet process has been attracted attention since it does not require a vacuum process and continuous production is easily done. In a wet process, it can be formed a light emitting layer having a desired composition by adjusting the material mixing ratio at the time of coating solution preparation. It has an advantage when the light emitting layer containing materials having greatly different mixing ratio is formed.
Moreover, using a polymer by a wet process in organic EL material is already known widely (for example, refer to Patent documents 3 and 4), and it is recognized as a useful technique. Furthermore, the organic electroluminescence element (it is also called an organic EL element) using a polymeric material having a specific weight average molecular weight is introduced as a well-known technique (for example, refer to Patent document 5).
By using a polymer as an organic EL material for a wet process with reference to these patent documents, it was thought that a very useful element would be obtained and development was investigated. However, it became clear that there was a new problem which was not disclosed in patent documents. That is, even if a polymer material was used, it was difficult to constitute the laminated structure continuously by a wet process. When the following layer is applied on a polymer material, a part of polymer material will be dissolved into the solvent used for the next application, and irregularity will arise in a membrane interface. The difference in the coating thickness by the irregularity affects the properties. When an electric current is passed in an element, a non-uniformity arises in electron flow, a rectification ratio becomes worse, and there will appear the phenomenon in which an element will not shine suddenly. Moreover, when a higher molecular weight was advanced too much in order to decrease the solubility in the solvent used for a next layer, it was suggested that there were deteriorate effects to external extraction quantum efficiency and a lifetime.


A system for reading a coded marker of an ink stick has been developed. The system includes an optical detector that detects light reflected from different areas of the generates signals in response to detecting light having at least two signal strengths that is reflected from different areas of the coded marker. A controller processes the signals from the optical detector to identify a code word encoded into the coded marker of the ink stick.

Solid ink or phase change ink printers conventionally use ink in a solid form, either as pellets or as ink sticks of colored cyan, yellow, magenta and black ink fed into shape coded openings. These openings fed generally vertically into the heater assembly of the printer where they were melted into a liquid state for jetting onto the receiving medium. The pellets were fed generally vertically downwardly, using gravity feed, into the ink loader. These pellets were elongated with separate multisided shapes each corresponding to a particular color.
Solid ink sticks have been typically either gravity fed or spring loaded into a feed channel and pressed against a heater plate to melt the solid ink into its liquid form. These ink sticks were shape coded and of a generally small size. One system used an ink stick loading system that initially fed the ink sticks into a preload chamber and then loaded the sticks into a load chamber by the action of a transfer lever. Earlier solid or hot melt ink systems used either a flexible web of hot melt ink that was incrementally unwound and advanced to a heater location or particulate hot melt ink that was delivered by vibrating the particulate into the melt chamber.
In previously known phase change ink jet printing systems, the interface between a control system for a phase change ink jet printer and a solid ink stick provided little information about the solid ink sticks loaded in the printer. For instance, control systems are not able to determine if the correct color of ink stick is loaded in a particular feed channel or if the ink that is loaded is compatible with that particular printer. Provisions have been made to ensure that an ink stick is correctly loaded into the intended feed channel and to ensure that the ink stick is compatible with that printer. These provisions, however, are generally directed toward excluding wrong colored or incompatible ink sticks from being inserted into the feed channels of the printer. For example, the correct loading of ink sticks has been accomplished by incorporating keying, alignment and orientation features into the exterior surface of an ink stick. These features are protuberances or indentations that are located in different positions on an ink stick. Corresponding keys or guide elements on the perimeters of the openings through which the ink sticks are inserted or fed exclude ink sticks which do not have the appropriate perimeter key elements while ensuring that the ink stick is properly aligned and oriented in the feed channel.
While this method is effective in ensuring correct loading of ink sticks in most situations, there are still situations when an ink stick may be incorrectly loaded into a feed channel of a printer. For example, world markets with various pricing and color table preferences have created a situation where multiple ink types may exist in the market simultaneously with nearly identical size/shape ink and/or ink packaging. Thus, ink sticks may appear to be substantially the same but, in fact, may be intended for different phase change printing systems due to factors such as, for example, market pricing or color table. In addition, due to the soft, waxy nature of an ink stick body, an ink stick may be "forced" through an opening into a feed channel. The printer control system, having no information regarding the configuration of the ink stick, may then conduct normal printing operations with an incorrectly loaded ink stick. If the loaded ink stick is the wrong color for a particular feed channel or if the ink stick is incompatible with the phase change ink jet printer in which it is being used, considerable errors and malfunctions may occur.

Apparatus for reading markings on a solid ink stick


A removal head with improved performance in terms of reading pharmaceutical information. The removal head of the present invention comprises a movement path component, a first braking component, and a sensor. The movement path component moves a substantially cylindrical pharmaceutical container that has an identification label and that has been taken out of a pharmaceutical container holding cassette that holds pharmaceutical containers. The first braking component is provided to the end of the movement path component, and stops the pharmaceutical container that has moved along the movement path component at a specific location. The sensor reads the identification label of the pharmaceutical container whose movement has been stopped at a specific location by the braking component. The movement path component has a movement face that moves along the movement path of the pharmaceutical container, and the movement face has a contact component that comes into contact with the pharmaceutical container.

Conventional pharmaceutical dispensing apparatuses equipped with a pharmaceutical dispensing unit of this type were configured to comprise a cassette in which cylindrical pharmaceutical containers were disposed, a container removal head for removing the pharmaceutical containers from this cassette, a holding means for holding the pharmaceutical containers taken out by this container removal head, and a reading device for reading pharmaceutical information attached to the pharmaceutical container (the following Patent Literature 1 is prior art that is similar to this).

Pharmaceutical dispensing unit, pharmaceutical dispensing apparatus equipped with same, and method for controlling pharmaceutical dispensing apparatus


A glass of the present invention includes as a glass composition, in terms of mol %, 60% to 80% of SiO2, 12% to 25% of Al2O3, 0% to 3% of B2O3, 0% to 3% of Li2O+Na2O+K2O, 5% to 25% of MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO, and 0.1% to 10% of P2O5, and has a strain point of more than 730° C.

It has been known that a semiconductor crystal to be used in an LED or the like is improved in semiconductor characteristics through its forming into a film at higher temperature.
In such application, a sapphire substrate having high heat resistance is generally used. Also in other applications, the sapphire substrate is used when the semiconductor crystal is formed into a film at high temperature (e.g., 700° C. or more).


A cleaner is provided which includes an electric dirt collection mechanism with an electrically powered dirt collection action and a wiping cleaning mechanism with a wiping cleaning action utilizing a cleaning sheet provided on the bottom surface of the main body of the cleaner which moves across the floor, wherein the electric dirt collection mechanism is switched on and off using a switch, and the wiping cleaning mechanism can be attached to, or detached from, the main body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaner which exhibits a cleaning function which utilizes a rotating brush or a suction device, and another cleaning function which utilizes a cleaning sheet.
2. Description of Related Art
Electric cleaners are widely used for cleaning floors in most typical households. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-314096 discloses a light weight cleaning tool which is easy to operate and enables any noticeable dirt to be cleaned with less effort than would be required with an electric cleaner. This cleaning tool utilizes a disposable cleaning sheet which is mounted to a holder, and by using a wiping action, dirt is collected on the surface of the cleaning sheet. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 63-77423 discloses a small electric cleaner with good ease of operation. This cleaner uses a battery driven rotating brush which sweeps up and collects any dirt.
The cleaning tool with a cleaning sheet collects dirt by capturing the dirt within the fibers of the sheet, which is formed from a nonwoven fabric or the like, and is consequently very effective in removing hair and dust. Furthermore, the sheet will also absorb liquids. However, the collection and removal of comparatively large pieces of dirt such as breadcrumbs, or comparatively heavy pieces of dirt such as sand is difficult.
In contrast, the rotating brush cleaner is very effective in removing heavy pieces of dirt such as breadcrumbs or sand. However, the removal of very fine dirt particles or soiling such as dust, and the removal of liquids is difficult.
Consequently, neither the aforementioned cleaning tool nor the cleaner are able to provide adequate cleaning of a wide range of dirt, soiling and liquids.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The method of operation of a vortex chamber which has a fluid connection which can be controlled at times to send fluid from the chamber to a cavity, containing a movable mass, and which can allow fluid to travel from the cavity through the same fluid connection into the chamber to later exit from the vortex chamber exit is disclosed. The vortex chamber, in a preferred embodiment, has a tangential power fluid input, an output at the center, and a radial combined input-output communicating with the movable mass container. The vortex chamber is used to reduce pressure at the fluid output when and only when control fluid input enters the chamber at the fluid input. Exhaust fluid from the movable mass container can easily pass radially through the vortex chamber to its output. The cavity containing the movable mass, which can be switched between locations, vortex chambers, connecting channels, and an electrically controlled switch to control the inputs to the vortex chambers are shown as an electrical relay produced in substrate form.

The present invention deals with fluid-controlled switches, some of their accessories, their combination with electrically-controlled switches to produce conglomerate switches with excellent characteristics, and switching networks containing the switches. There are two main areas in which electrically-controlled electrical relays are extensively used. The first is in a telephone switching networks, where ferreeds and remreeds have been extensively used. These devices are bulky and must be manufactured and checked individually. Also their operation necessitates electromagnetic fields being in proximity to transmission lines. The remreeds also carry fairly low power. Therefore, it is one purpose of the present invention to show how relays of reduced bulk, excellent isolation, low closed-circuit impedance, negligible open-circuit conductance and capacitance, and good reliability can be manufactured by mass production techniques. These relays can be easily integrated into a present telephone switching network, since the range of operating voltages from a few volts up to hundreds of volts includes the voltage currently used in such networks. The subject switches of the current invention have a further advantage over remreeds in that they carry status signals in their reset state to determine whether a particular line is currently in use.
A second use of electrically-controlled electrical relays is in the area of controlling high power or high voltage circuits. Therefore, it is a further purpose of the present invention to provide relays capable of performing high voltage and high power switching with a wide range of control voltages, low resistance heating, and excellent electrical isolation between controlling and controlled circuits. Further, the relays of the present invention are not bulky and can be manufactured cheaply by mass production techniques.
Some other purposes of the present invention are to provide:
(1) an efficient fluid amplifier for hydraulic systems with said amplifier having positive shut-off, high power capacity, and low switching power consumption; PA0 (2) a compact and efficient fluid to electric signal transducer; PA0 (3) a compact but powerful electric to fluid signal transducer in the form of a conglomerate switch consisting of an electrically-controlled fluid switch connected to a second switch, which is a fluid amplifier switch acting as a follower; PA0 (4) a switching system which indicates status at all times by a separate set of signals, and two methods of producing destructive mark operation; PA0 (5) a power transducer taking heat as an input and producing fluid flow power as an output; PA0 (6) a three port fluid system inhibiting flow between two ports but allowing almost free flow between any other pair of ports.

Vortex chamber controlling combined entrance exit


A method for producing design patterns on denim products is disclosed wherein a predetermined design is formed on the denim with a composition comprising a paste form from albumen and deutoplasm. The denim product is dried and thereafter bleached. Upon washing of the bleached product to remove the paste, the desired pattern on the bleached product is obtained.

Today, denim products have been much popular as pants, trousers and/or jackets. These denim products are made of thick cotton fabrics whose warps are dark blue and whose wefts are white and which are of diagonal weave or plain weave. There are generally two methods for producing design patterns on these denim products, one of which is a chemical washing method in which said denim products are put into a drum cage and a specified quantity of pumice which has been immersed and seasoned in an aqueous solution of calcium hypochlorite is put in said drum cage altogether and marble-like spotted design patterns can be produced by aid of rubbing and friction between said denim woven products and said pumice by rotating said denim woven products together said pumice in said rotary drum cage, and the other of which is called a chemical bleaching method in which said denim woven products are agitated for a specified period of time in an aqueous solution of calcium hypochlorite having a concentration of about 6%, thereby causing said denim woven products to be totally white-bleached.
In the former chemical washing method, the design is produced by only a number of irregular spots, and in the latter chemical bleaching method said denim woven products are only totally white-bleached. Namely in either case, produced design is merely vague. Therefore, these two conventional methods do not meet any requirements of recent youngsters who want that design pattern is novel, bold and individual and do not give us any designs of free drawing or painting.

Method for producing designs and image patterns on denim products