Embodiments of the invention are directed to flush syringe assemblies comprising an integrated contamination-prevention device integrated with device connector flushing positioned so that the practitioner cannot forget to apply disinfectant. The flush syringe assemblies comprise a barrel with an elongate plunger rod disposed therein and a cap comprising a passageway. The plunger rod includes a stopper of which at least a portion can be embedded in the passageway of the cap to form a plug in the cap.

VADs are commonly used therapeutic devices yet accounted for 18,000 blood stream infections in American ICUs in 2009, according to the CDC, which also reports a mortality rate of 12-25%. MMWR Morb. Mortal Wkly. Rep. 2011; 60:243-248. In the same article, the CDC attributes additional blood stream infections and deaths to VAD use in regular hospital rooms and out-patient care.
If not properly maintained the VADs, which include peripheral catheters and central venous catheters, can become sealed with blood clots or spread infection. To ensure VADs are used properly and do not become sealed or infected, protocols have been developed. These protocols include sterilizing the VAD and the flushing the catheter with a flush solution. VAD protocols usually recommend flush procedures be performed after catheter placement, before fluid infusion, and before and after drug administration, blood sampling, transfusions and parenteral nutrition. The goal of these flush procedures is to confirm catheter patency, avoid drug incompatibilities, ensure the complete drug dose administration, prevent thrombus formation and minimize the risk of blood stream infections. Before each flush procedure is performed, the VAD should be sterilized. A recent study reported that 30% of the time, there is no effort to sterilize the VAD prior to flushing and when an attempt to sterilize the VAD it often did not fully meet aseptic practices.
Catheters are flushed using syringe assemblies filled with various fluids. In some cases, different fluids are injected sequentially in accordance with the protocol. For example, a saline solution followed by an anticoagulant such as heparin. The size of the syringe used to flush LV. lines varies by various factors including the size and length of the catheter. Typically syringes of 1 ml, 3 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml volume are used.
It is important in the flush procedure not to draw blood back into the catheter where it can clot and seal the catheter, commonly referred to as "reflux". In order to prevent blood reflux into the catheter the user is encouraged to maintain a positive pressure in the line during the flush procedure. This may involve clamping the IV line and Withdrawing the syringe and cannula from the LV. port while still applying pressure to the syringe plunger rod during the flush procedure. When using a syringe with an elastomeric stopper, the stopper is often compressed when it contacts the distal end of the syringe barrel at the completion of the flush procedure. When a user relieves the pressure to the plunger after the flush procedure is completed, the stopper will expand back to its normal size thereby withdrawing liquid from the catheter into the syringe barrel. This is undesirable, since it can cause blood to enter the catheter at the catheter distal end (reflux) where it will remain stationary until the next time the VAD is used.
IV lines are now being flushed by a wide variety of health care workers, not just those who in the past were dedicated to catheter maintenance. In the case of out-patient care, the patients themselves may even flush their own catheters. These less experienced persons might prematurely release the compressive force on the stopper or use excessive force which would deform the stopper, either which may draw blood into the catheter and cause reflux of blood. Consequently, there is a need for flush syringe assemblies which promote sterilizing the VAD and help reduce or eliminate reflux of blood during the flushing procedure even if flush protocols are not precisely followed.

Methods and apparatus for disinfecting and reflux prevention flush syringe assembly


A size inspection device includes an inspection frame, a transferring belt, a positioning assembly, an inspection assembly, a suction assembly, and a controller. The transferring belt is slidably mounted on the inspection frame. The positioning assembly, the inspection assembly, the suction assembly, and the controller are mounted on the inspection frame. The controller is electrically connected to the inspection assembly and the suction assembly. When the positioning assembly positions the workpiece on the transferring belt below the inspection assembly, the inspection assembly obtains size value of the workpiece and transfers it to the controller, the controller compares the size value to a preset standard range to determine whether or not the workpiece has passed quality inspection, and controls the suction assembly to handle the workpiece which is not of passing quality away from the transferring belt.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a size inspection device, and particularly to a size inspection device for detecting and inspecting size dimensions of a workpiece.
2. Description of Related Art
When determining or assessing whether various size dimensions of a workpiece are within preset quality specification tolerance, to be considered as passing or failing size inspection test, a detecting and inspection device, such as a micrometer caliper, is employed to measure a length value, a width value, and a thickness value of the workpiece. However, obtaining the above-mentioned size parameters by using the micrometer caliper is time consuming, thereby reducing an efficiency of the size measuring procedure.
Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

FU DING ELECTRONICAL TECHNOLOGY (JIASHAN) CO., LTD.


Controlling stocker capacity in an automated facility and controlling monitor budgets by capped releases, capped FOUP supplies, and wafer reuse methodology. A Database is used to order, track, and reclaim test (monitor) wafers in the FAB. The database automatically controls the amount of FOUPs in the FAB as well as the amount of wafers released into the FAB each day. This database also interacts with the Control Center in helping to release monitor wafers in the FAB.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates broadly to semiconductor device fabrication and, more particularly, to techniques for controlling inventory of monitor wafers in an automated semiconductor factory (FAB).
2. Related Art
The following comments are adapted from an article entitled "Tracking the performance of photolithographic processes with excursion monitoring", by Eric H. Bokclberg and Michael E. Pariseau, IBM Microelectronics.
In today's high-volume semiconductor fabs, photolithographic process steps (wafer prime, resist-apply, expose, bake, and develop) are performed in sequence hundreds of times on hundreds of wafers per day to produce well-defined photoresist patterns. In many cases, these litho process steps are combined into one tool, referred to as a photocluster, that links a resist-process track system with an exposure tool. Because lithography plays a critical role in creating device features throughout the semiconductor production operation, accurate, repeatable photocluster performance is vital, and the individual tools are typically monitored by means of numerous tool checks (inspection procedures designed to evaluate specific components of the process). Examples include resist-film-thickness and hot-plate temperature uniformity measurements on the track, and dose-uniformity and focus-control evaluations on the expose tool. Assessment of defect performance is limited to foreign material (FM) particulate inspections through subprocesses such as resist-apply, develop only, or dry-wafer handling. While the individual tool checks ensure that many of the most critical components of the litho process are within established specifications, they are unable to monitor the interactions between components, which can create out-of-spec conditions in the printed pattern even though individual tools are in spec. Consequently, the integrated litho process is also monitored through inspections and measurements of production wafers. In-line product parametric data are sorted by photocluster and displayed in tool-specific statistical process control (SPC) charts. When out-of-control trends are identified, operation of the problem tools is inhibited until the problem can be investigated and resolved.
As long as these inspections occur immediately after the litho process, and the products and levels processed on each tool are consistent from day to day (as in a large-volume, single-part-number fab), this approach to photo tool control works reasonably well. However, as fab product loading becomes more varied, with multiple part numbers and multiple levels being processed on each photo tool, trend identification becomes more difficult and individual photo tool excursions are not always immediately evident. Furthermore, when defect inspection is 1 or 2 days downstream of the photo operation and 3 days worth of data are needed to recognize a trend, thousands of wafers can be affected by a tool problem before it becomes apparent.
Detection of a tool problem in the back end of the line (BEOL) may take even longer because prior-level "noise" can obscure defects during in-line inspection, and photo process excursions may not be evident until electrical testing several weeks later. The time delays between when excursions occur and when they are actually detected are critical factors in maintaining wafer yields and device performance—for each day that a defect or dimensional problem remains undetected, hundreds of wafers can be affected.
One solution to this problem is to track each tool's defect and dimensional performance daily with an excursion monitor-a clean wafer that is processed with a unique resist pattern and then inspected for defects and critical dimensions. Because there are no influences from prior levels, the data plots for each monitor can clearly reveal problems that existed too briefly to be identified by in-line product measurements.
This article outlines the challenges faced in establishing a daily excursion monitor program and presents examples of process excursions that have been successfully identified.
The excursion monitor program that has been adopted by the IBM Microelectronics Division in Essex Junction, Vt., is a daily tool check that identifies photo-process equipment malfunctions and other process excursions as soon as they occur, minimizing product rework, scrap, and yield loss. The concept is simple: a clean wafer is fully processed through a photocluster to create a specially designed resist pattern. The monitor wafer is then inspected, defects are classified, and the resist critical dimension (CD) is measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Defect and measurement data are plotted in tool-specific SPC charts to monitor each tool's performance and identify trends. Because the excursion monitor is intended to be processed, inspected, and measured in the same way that production wafers are, it has been designed for ease of manufacturability with simple, straightforward patterning that can be integrated within a normal sequence of production lots at any operation.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the excursion monitor process flow. Reclaimed wafers to be used as excursion monitors are initially inspected for FM. They are then delivered to the photocluster, where they are coated with resist and developed using a standard production resist process, except that they are exposed using a reticle specifically designed for excursion monitoring.
The aforementioned article describes the process flow of the wafer as it pertains to the use in the FAB and at the process tools.
The present invention deals with the wafer prior to entering the FAB for processing and after the wafers are selected for reclaim (last step, upper left, in FIG. 1)—namely, pre and post processing in the FAB.
A common problem with releasing monitor wafers into the FAB is staying within budget. There is also a problem with consistency in controlling the wafers while released in the FAB (releasing and getting the wafers off the floor). ("Controlling" a wafer is the process of releasing the correct part numbers to the FAB, reusing returned wafers in different process areas to reduce cost, and finally reclaiming wafers to an outside vendor. "Releasing" is the process of taking a raw wafer, placing it into a FOUP (Front Opening Universal Pod), and assigning to a wafer route so it can be used in the FAB.)

Monitor wafer purchase and controls database

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a porous electrode comprising a porous film (A) with through pores and an electrically conducting material selected from the group consisting of conductor and semiconductor, the porous film (A) having an average pore size d1 of from 0.02 to 3 μm and a porosity of from 40 to 90%, the electrically conducting material being filled in the through pores of the porous film (A). A dye-sensitized solar cell and an electric double layer capacitor including the porous electrode as a constituent are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a porous electrode, to a composite element including the porous electrode, and to a dye-sensitized solar cell and an electric double layer capacitor including the porous electrode of the composite element as a constituent. The present invention relates also to methods for producing the porous electrode and the composite element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Photoelectric conversion elements such as solar cells have been hoped to be clean energy sources. For example, pn-junction silicon-based solar cells have already been put to practical use. However, the production cost reduction has become a major challenge because the silicon-based solar cells need highly pure raw materials and the production of the cells needs a high temperature process which is practiced at about 1000° C. or a vacuum process. Thus, much attention have recently been occupied by wet type solar cells which do not necessarily need highly pure raw materials or a high energy process and which separate charges by action of voltage gradient that generates in a solid-liquid interface.
In particular, so-called "dye-sensitized solar cells" in which a dye capable of absorbing light is adsorbed on the surface of a semiconductor electrode and the photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved through the dye's absorption of visible light with a wavelength longer than the band gap of the semiconductor electrode are actively being studied.
However, conventional dye-sensitized solar cells exert extremely poor efficiency of light usage. Semiconductors composed of single crystal or polycrystal conventionally used in semiconductor electrodes have a smooth surface and contain no pores therein. Therefore, the effective area of the region which the sensitizing dye is carried on is almost equal to the area of the electrode at most. As a result, only electrodes carrying a small amount of sensitizing dye thereon are provided. In such an electrode, only a monomolecular-layer sensitizing dye carried on a surface of the electrode can contribute the generation of energy and the amount of light absorbed by the electrode is at most 1% of the incident light even at the maximum absorption wavelength. In general, attempts to increase the sensitizing dye for enhancing the light capture ability have not resulted in sufficient effect.
In such a situation, Gratzel et al. proposed, as a solution to the above-mentioned problems, a method of greatly increasing the inner surface area by rendering a titanium oxide electrode porous and making a sensitizing dye be carried (see, for example, Oregan B, Gratzel M,. Nature 353, 737 (1991) and JP-A 1-220380).
Adsorption of sensitizing dye on the surface of porous titanium oxide achieved in such a manner has made it possible to drastically increase the amount of electron substantially injected and enhance the ability to capture light.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional structure of the dye-sensitized solar cell disclosed by Oregan B, Gratzel M, Nature 353, 737 (1991). Light is incident from the transparent substrate 11. A transparent electroconductive film such as a tin oxide film is used as the collecting electrode 12 because a photoelectric conversion layer is placed below the collecting electrode. Sign 13 denotes a semiconductor electrode layer which carries a sensitizing dye thereon. The semiconductor electrode layer 13 has a porous structure in which titanium oxide with a particle diameter of about 50 nm or less has been sintered to the collecting electrode 12. Sign 14 denotes an electrolyte solution, which is placed so as to permeate into the semiconductor electrode layer 13 carrying the dye thereon. Sign 15 denotes a counter electrode, which is disposed on a substrate 16.
The dye-sensitized solar cell having the above-mentioned constitution performs photoelectric conversion in an action mechanism described below. At first, the light incident on the dye-sensitized solar cell passes through the light-transmissive collecting electrode and then is absorbed by the sensitizing dye 17 adsorbed on the semiconductor. Thus, excited electrons are generated. The excited electrons move to the semiconductor and then reach the negative electrode through the semiconductor electrode layer 13. The dye which lost an excited electron receives an electron from a redox electrolyte in a reduced state, thereby returning to its original state. The redox electrolyte in the electrolyte solution, the redox electrolyte having turned to its oxidized state by losing an electron, receives an electron from a counter electrode 15 with a platinum film thereon, returning to its reduced state.
However, in a conventional dye-sensitization solar cell, when a flexible plastic film is used as the transparent substrate 11, the semiconductor electrode layer composed of titanic oxide can not follow the flexibility of the film and cracking or exfoliation may occur. It is possible to inhibit the cracking or exfoliation to some extent by reducing the amount of ultrafine particles of titanium oxide applied, thereby reducing the thickness of the semiconductor layer itself. This, however, causes a problem of reduction in efficiency of light usage due to decrease in the amount of titanium oxide for the light receiving area.
To this problem, some solutions were proposed. WO93/20569 proposes to add a nonionic surfactant "TRITON X-100" to titanic oxide paste in order to reduce cracking in a coating film. However, because the surfactant is added in an amount of 40% by weight with respect to the amount of the titanic oxide, electron transfer in the titanic oxide film may be obstructed. JP-A 2003-272722 proposes use of a fluoropolymer as a binder in an amount of about 1% with respect to the amount of titanium oxide. However, the flexibility is insufficient because the binder is added in a relatively small amount. Journal of Japan Solar Energy Society, vol. 29, No. 4 (2003) proposes to coat titanium oxide particles containing a small amount of binder and then compress them, thereby improving adhesion between particles. This approach, however, is undesirable because the porous structure of the titanium oxide particles is broken by the compression force.

Porous electrodes, devices including the porous electrodes, and methods for their production


A transformer having adjustable leakage inductance includes a primary winding coil, a secondary winding coil, a bobbin and a magnetic core assembly. The bobbin includes a winding section for winding the primary winding coil and the secondary winding coil thereon, wherein the bobbin further includes a channel therein. The magnetic core assembly is partially embedded into the channel of the first bobbin. The primary winding coil and the secondary winding coil are partially overlapped with each other and wound around the winding section of the bobbin to be defined as an overlap region. The region where the primary winding coil and the secondary winding coil are not overlapped with each other is defined as a non-overlap region. The leakage inductance of the transformer is adjusted according to an overlap ratio of the overlap region to the sum of the overlap region and the non-overlap region.

A transformer has become an essential electronic component for various kinds of electric appliances. Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic exploded view of a conventional transformer is illustrated. The transformer 1 principally comprises a magnetic core assembly 11, a bobbin 12, a primary winding coil 13 and a secondary winding coil 14. The primary winding coil 13 and the secondary winding coil 14 are overlapped with each other and wound around a winding section 121 of the bobbin 12. A tape 15 is provided for isolation and insulation. The magnetic core assembly 11 includes a first magnetic part 111 and a second magnetic part 112. The middle portion 111a of the first magnetic part 111 and the middle portion 112a of the second magnetic part 112 are embedded into the channel 122 of the bobbin 12. The primary winding coil 13 and the secondary winding coil 14 interact with the magnetic core assembly 11 to achieve the purpose of voltage regulation.
Since the leakage inductance of the transformer has an influence on the electric conversion efficiency of a power converter, it is very important to control leakage inductance. Related technologies were developed to increase coupling coefficient and reduce leakage inductance of the transformer so as to reduce power loss upon voltage regulation. In the transformer of FIG. 1, the primary winding coil 13 and the secondary winding coil 14 are overlapped with each other and wound around the bobbin 12. As a consequence, there is less magnetic flux leakage generated from the primary winding coil 13 and the secondary winding coil 14. The primary winding coil 13 and the secondary winding coil 14 are overlapped with each other and wound around a winding section 121 of the bobbin 12. Under this circumstance, sine the coupling coefficient is increased, the leakage inductance of the transformer is reduced (e.g. less than 10 μH) and the power loss upon voltage regulation is reduced, the electric conversion efficiency of a power converter is enhanced.
In the power supply system of the electric products in the new generation, for example LCD televisions, the transformer with leakage inductance prevails. The current generated from the power supply system will pass through a LC resonant circuit composed of an inductor L and a capacitor C. The inductor L is provided from the primary winding coil of the transformer. Meanwhile, the current with a near half-sine waveform will pass through a power MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) switch. When the current is zero, the power MOSFET switch is conducted. After a half-sine wave is past and the current returns zero, the switch is shut off. As known, this soft switch of the resonant circuit may reduce damage possibility of the switch and minimize the noise.
In order to increase the leakage inductance of the transformer, the primary winding coil should be separated from the secondary winding coil by a certain distance to reduce the coupling coefficient of the transformer. Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic exploded view of a transformer with leakage inductance according to prior art is illustrated. The transformer 2 principally comprises a magnetic core assembly 21, a bobbin 22, a primary winding coil 23, a secondary winding coil 24 and a tape 25. The bobbin 22 comprises a first side plate 221, a second side plate 222 and a winding member 223. The tape 25 is wound around the middle portion of the winding member 223 and has a width d. The winding member 223 is divided into a first winding section 2231 and a second winding section 2232, which are located at bilateral sides of the tape 25. The primary winding coil 23 and the secondary winding coil 24 are wound around the first winding section 2231 and the second winding section 2232, respectively. For safety regulations, the tape 25 is used for isolation between the primary winding coil 23 and the secondary winding coil 24. As the width d of the tape 25 between the primary winding coil 23 and the secondary winding coil 24 is increased, the coupling coefficient is reduced and the leakage inductance of the transformer is increased. Under this circumstance, the resonant circuit of the power supply system will be conveniently controlled.
Although the transformer of FIG. 2 is advantageous for increasing the leakage inductance, some drawbacks still exist. For example, since the primary winding coil 23 and the secondary winding coil 24 are separated by the tape 25, the coupling coefficient is reduced and the leakage inductance is too high (e.g. greater than 50 μH) to be lowered or adjusted.
As previously described, the transformer of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 fails to adjust the leakage inductance within an acceptable range.
In views of the above-described disadvantages, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to develop a transformer having adjustable leakage inductance according to the present invention through wholehearted experience and research.

Transformer having adjustable leakage inductance


A solution polymerization process that consumes less energy comprising: injecting feeds into one or more reactors to form a polyethylene in a single liquid phase, or optionally two liquid phases; deactivating the single or dual liquid phase; a first V/L separator separates the deactivated phase into a first bottom stream and a first overhead stream; the first overhead stream passes to a distillation column and the first bottom stream enters a second V/L separator, forming a second overhead stream and a second bottom stream; the second bottom stream enters a third V/L separator, forming a third overhead stream and a third bottom stream; the third bottom stream passes to polymer recovery; the second and third overhead streams are combined, condensed and purified, forming a purified solvent that is recycled to said reactors.

The continuous solution polymerization process is well known. Y. V. Kissin briefly discusses, in The Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, in an article titled "Polyethylene, Linear Low Density", a solution polymerization process. In the solution process, solvent, monomer(s) and catalyst are continuously fed to a reactor. The reactor can be operated over a relatively wide range of temperatures and pressures; producing a single liquid phase containing the desired polymer. Downstream of the reactor, the single liquid phase is phase separated to recover the solvent, unreacted ethylene and α-olefins (if present) from the polymer. In the phase separation step, a first vapor/liquid (hereafter V/L) separator operating at lower pressure, relative to the reactor(s), generates: a gaseous overhead stream of solvent, monomers, hydrogen (if present), light-end impurities and possibly some low molecular weight oligomers or grease, and; a bottom stream of an ethylene polymer rich solution and deactivated catalyst.
The gaseous overhead stream produced in the first V/L separator is typically transported to a process unit that separates the components into chemically distinct fractions. Various processes are known to accomplish this separation; for example a distillation column or two or more distillation columns connected in series. Such distillation operations may also include a cryogenic distillation column for the separation of ethylene. The distilled products, e.g. solvent, comonomer(s) and ethylene can be stored in tanks or vessels prior to being transported to the upstream solution polymerization process. Engineers experienced in the art are familiar with the design of distillation columns to accomplish specific separations, e.g. Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook (8th Edition), D. W. Green and R. H. Perry, 2008 McGraw-Hill, Section 13, "Distillation". The distillation operation is not particularly important to the success of this invention; however, this invention allows one to reduce the size and capacity of the distillation operation.
An earlier Canadian application (CA 2,809,718), that is related to this invention, discloses a process wherein a gaseous overhead stream from a first V/L separator is condensed and recycled to one or more upstream reactors in a more energy efficient manner; relative to passing this gaseous overhead stream to a distillation column.
The bottom stream produced in the first V/L separator may be transported to: i) a polymer recovery operation, or; ii) one or more additional V/L separators to remove additional solvent and optional comonomers. The subject matter of this application is focused on the latter, ii), as will be discussed in the invention summary below. Polymer recovery operations are not particularly important to the success of this invention. A typical polymer recovery operation includes a means for conveying the bottom stream, which is a viscous stream comprised essentially of molten ethylene polymer that contains a small amount of deactivated catalyst and residual solvent through a devolatilizing operation and ultimately through a pelletizer. Once pelletized, and optionally dried, the ethylene polymer is generally transported to a product silo. The means for conveying the bottom stream may include gravity, gear pumps, single screw extruders, twin screw extruders and sub-atmospheric pressure, vacuum extruders with vents that allow residual solvent or optional α-olefin comonomers to be removed.
The solution polymerization process is an energy intensive process. For example, relative to gas phase polymerization reactors, the solution polymerization reactor(s) run hotter, consume more steam and operate at higher pressures. A need exists to improve the energy efficiency of the continuous solution polymerization process. This invention describes embodiments of a continuous solution polymerization process that consumes less energy, relative to a base case solution polymerization process. Because less energy is consumed, manufacturing variable costs are reduced and the environment benefits, e.g., reduced greenhouse gas emissions. An added benefit of this invention is a reduction in the amount of capital required to build the continuous solution polymerization plant.

Solution polymerization process with improved energy utilization


An interactive computer system responsive to a user's voluntary and autonomic nervous system responses. The interactive computer system includes a computer, a voluntary input device requiring intentional actuation by the use, a sensor to detect autonomic nervous system responses, an interface device, and an output device. The voluntary input devices and output devices communicate with the computer. The sensors detect autonomic nervous system signals of a user and generate signals representative of the responses. The interface device communicates with the sensors and the computer. The interface device conditions the signals generated by the sensors and transmits the signals to the computer. The computer is responsive to the signals and produces an output command which is in part dependent upon the signals. The output device responds appropriately to the output command produced by the computer.

The devices used by people to interact with computers have dramatically changed over the past few decades. As the speed and processing power of computers have increased, the devices and methods for interaction between man and computer have improved. Voluntary input devices such as the mouse, joystick, touch pad, touch screen, and keyboard have been developed to make computers easier to use.
In 1972, Pong.TM., one of the first video computer games, was introduced. In that game, a simulated ball would "bounce" over a line between opposite sides of a monitor screen, as a tennis ball bounces over a net from one side of the court to the other. A paddle, analogous to a tennis racquet, was controlled by the player and used to direct the "ball" from the player's side of the screen to the opposite side of the screen. If the ball passed the player's paddle, the player would lose the point. The Pong.TM. game entertained thousands of people and helped begin the video game revolution.
Video computer games of many different kinds are now available, both for arcade and home play. Video computer games can be categorized as fighting, adventure, role playing, puzzle, sporting, racing, and simulation games. This list of categories is not intended to be exhaustive. Other categories and categorization schemes may exist.
Fighting games are characterized by a one-on-one contest between the player's character and another character. The other character can be controlled by either the computer or a second player. The object is to win the contest.
In an adventure game, the player's character is on a journey through a graphical world where he is confronted by other characters and obstacles. Points are awarded to the player for various actions, such as killing an evil character, retrieving an item, or reaching a goal. The object is to achieve the highest point score.
In a role playing game, the player is on an imaginary journey and encounters numerous obstacles, such as evil characters, collapsed bridges, quicksand, trap doors, and the like. In order to remain in the game, the player must overcome these obstacles. The object of the game is to complete the journey.
The player in a puzzle game must solve a puzzle. The difficulty of the game may be increased by imposing time constraints, increasing the difficulty of the puzzle itself, or by imposing some other limitation. The goal is to solve the puzzle within the given constraints.
In sporting games, the player controls simulated athletes or equipment in a sporting event, such as a football, baseball, hockey, or basketball game. The dexterity and strength of the simulated athletes, or the behavior of the equipment, such as a golf club and golf ball, is programmed into the game. The player's object is to win the sporting event.
Racing games are a hybrid of sporting games and adventure games. The player in a racing game navigates a vehicle in a race or on a mission. The object of the game is to finish the race or mission before any other competitor or in the shortest time.
Simulation games mimic the experience of operating an actual vehicle such as an aircraft, tank, or submarine. The object of the simulation is to master control of the vehicle while attempting to destroy an enemy or complete an obstacle course.
In existing video computer games, the computer's output is based solely on the voluntary responses of a user through a voluntary input device such as a joystick. Since video computer games respond in the same manner when given the same input, video computer games lack variability. Often players find a video computer game trite after playing it numerous times and memorizing the appropriate inputs necessary to achieve the desired result.
Computers are not used only to play video computer games, of course. A large and growing number of people use the computer to communicate with others. E-mail and the World Wide Web are available to millions of people around the world. Interactive games, quiz games, mind games, and games of truth can be played over computer networks and the Internet.
Recently, "chat rooms" and other computer conferencing systems have become increasingly popular. Chat rooms permit computer users to communicate over the Internet, an on-line service, or other computer network, by displaying typed messages, sound clips, and video images as they are entered by each user in the chat room. Chat rooms provide a forum for discussing subjects such as business, sex, theater, hobbies, and sports. Chat rooms are an increasingly popular form of entertainment.
The goal of video computer games and computer conferencing systems is to excite, entertain, and impart information to the user. However, current video computer games and computer conferencing systems have no way of determining whether the user is indeed excited or entertained by the activity, because video computer games and other forms of computer entertainment utilize only the user's voluntary responses. In one video computer game, for example, good eye-hand coordination or the ability to run in place on a pressure sensitive pad while controlling a joystick in response to visual and auditory signals may be the only inputs required. In another video computer game, the user's problem solving ability may be all that is required. Since users can easily memorize the voluntary inputs needed to win a video computer game and the video computer game responds the same way each time to a given voluntary input, the video computer game becomes predictable and, ultimately, boring.
While all video computer games and computer conferencing systems require intentional and voluntary inputs from the user, the emotional state of the user remains undetected and unused. In order for the user to express his emotional state, the user must perform a voluntary act. Currently, users attempt to convey their emotions to other computer users by using various symbols (e.g., the symbol ":-)" represents a smile). In all these activities, the user is usually limited to input from a keyboard, mouse, microphone, video camera, or other voluntary input device. However, the actual emotional state of the user is never directly input to the computer.
By restricting the input of the computer to voluntary acts by the user, the ability of the computer to be used as a means of communication is greatly limited. While communicating over a computer, a user has no means to communicate his emotional state based upon actual physiological or autonomic nervous system responses while communicating other information voluntarily. Similarly, a user receiving information has no way of "sensing" the emotional state of the other computer user.
Computers have been used to collect data about the autonomic responses of a subject in the context of medical monitoring and treatment. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,047, an ambulatory patient health monitoring system is disclosed where a patient is monitored by a health care worker at a central station while the patient is at a remote location. Various items of medical condition sensing and monitoring equipment are placed in the patient's home, depending on the particular medical needs of the patient. The patient's medical condition is sensed and measured in the home, and the data are collected by a computer and transmitted to the central station for analysis and display. The health care worker then is placed into interactive visual communication with the patient so that the health care worker can assess the patient's general well being as well as the patient's medical condition.
In another medical application, signals from a patient's heart are fed to a computer for analysis and generation of a display indicative of the patient's heart rate. The heart rate information is presented to the patient. Then, the patient concentrates on the heart rate information display in an attempt to lower his heart rate. This type of "bio-feedback" is a clinical tool that is commonly used to teach patients to control certain of their autonomic functions.
Computers have also used physiological data to control a simulation game. U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,081 discloses a golf simulator which monitors brain waves to control the flight of a simulated golf ball. If the monitored brain waves suggest a high level of concentration, the simulator causes the ball to fly straight. If the monitored brain waves suggest excitement, and thus a lower degree of concentration, the simulator causes the ball to hook or slice. The monitored brain waves exclusively control the flight of the ball, and the flight of the ball is not responsive to any voluntary inputs from the player.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,118 discloses a quiz game which uses a physiological response. A computer measures the user's skin resistance in response to a posed question. Then, the user's skin resistance, which indicates to the user how he is reacting to the question, is displayed by the computer. The user then voluntarily enters a response to the question using the computer keyboard based on the displayed skin resistance. The computer selects the next question based on his answer to the previous question and thus guides the user through a programmed series of questions. The computer responds solely to the user's voluntary answer to the question.
Physiological responses are also used in communications contexts. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,952, a communication system using an instrumented glove is disclosed for deaf, deaf and blind, or non-vocal individuals. Strain gage sensors in the glove detect movements of the user's hand. The movements detected by the sensors are transmitted to a computer which translates the movements into letters, words, or phrases. The output devices for communicating depend on the visual, vocal, and hearing capabilities of the individuals and can be selected from a voice synthesizer, LCD monitor, or Braille display. The computer responds only to the user's voluntary inputs.
As all of these examples illustrate, prior to the present invention computers have not used a combination of user voluntary and autonomic responses to control a computer system to provide a more realistic game experience or more complete communication of information.
The present invention utilizes both a user's voluntary actions and the user's autonomic nervous system responses as an indicator of emotions to allow for more intimate interaction with other computer users in computer conferencing systems and for more engaging and exciting simulators, video computer games, entertaiunent programs, and other interactive programs. The detection of the user's voluntary actions and autonomic nervous system responses enables the computer to respond to both the user's emotional state and voluntary actions.

System for generating output based on involuntary and voluntary user input without providing output information to induce user to alter involuntary input


A videoconferencing apparatus includes a multi-point (MP) conference application that enables the apparatus to combine and distribute audio and video signals received from a plurality of remote conference endpoints, thereby obviating the need to provide a separate multi-point control unit having hardware-based inverse multiplexers (IMUXs). The MP conference application is configured to generate, for each remote conference endpoint participating in a conference, discrete instances of a signal processing train by means of dynamically allocable IMUXs, each processing train including a communication process and audio/video/data codecs. The processed audio and video signals are subsequently conveyed to an audio mixer and video switching module for combination with locally-generated audio and video signals. The outputs of the audio mixer and video switching module are sent to each of the plurality of signal processing trains, which process the combined signals according to a transmit mode for distribution to the remote endpoints over the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to conferencing systems, and more particularly to a videoconferencing apparatus for use with multi-point conferences.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Videoconferencing systems have become an increasingly popular and valuable business communications tool. These systems facilitate rich and natural communication between persons or groups of persons located remotely from each other, and reduce the need for expensive and time-consuming business travel.
At times, it may be desirable to conduct multi-point conferences, wherein three or more parties (each party consisting of an individual or group located at a particular conference endpoint) participate in the conference. Multi-point conferences are particularly useful in situations where several interested parties need to participate in the resolution of an issue, or where information is to be disseminated on an enterprise-wide level. However, commercially available video conferencing systems are generally capable of communicating with only one other conference endpoint at a time. To conduct multi-point conferences, the conference endpoints are conventionally interconnected through an external piece of equipment called a multi-point control unit (MCU). The MCU is provided with multiple ports for receiving signals representative of audio and video information generated at each of the conference endpoints. The received signals are mixed and/or switched as appropriate, and the mixed/switched signals are subsequently transmitted to each of the conference endpoints.
A significant disadvantage associated with the use of MCUs is their expense. An enterprise wishing to conduct multi-point conferences must either purchase a MCU, which may cost upwards of $50,000, or contract for "video bridge" services through a telephone company, wherein an MCU located at the telephone company's facilities is rented on a fee per unit of usage basis. In either case, the high cost of purchasing or renting an MCU may dissuade a company from conducting multi-point conferences, even when it would be useful to do so.
Conventional MCUs further require a dedicated Inverse Multiplexer (IMUX) for each endpoint of a multi-point conference. These dedicated IMUXs are hardware devices which must be purchased and installed at additional cost to achieve increased endpoint capability.
Finally, conventional MCUs include hard-wired processing units each having a dedicated set of channels associated therewith. Thus, unused channels associated with a processing unit are unavailable for allocation to additional endpoints.
What is therefore needed in the art is a relatively low-cost videoconferencing apparatus which can dynamically allocate unused channels on an as needed basis.

Videoconferencing apparatus having integrated multi-point conference capabilities


Metal deco ink formulations are improved by the use of fluorescent dyes, UV-absorbing dyes and/or IR-absorbing dyes. These may be premixed with a phenol-formaldehyde resin without microencapsulation to protect the dye from other ink ingredients that have chemistries which are incompatible with that of the dye, in order to obtain photochromic ink formulation with a good shelf life.

Photochromic and thermochromic ink formulations are known in the patent literature, primarily for screen printing applications but also for security inks. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,255 issued to Small et al. describes thermochromic ink formulations and their methods of use. U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,225, issued to Nakanishi et al. describes microencapsulated photochromic material, together with a process for its preparation in a water-base ink composition. U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,180, issued to Trundle et al describes marking of articles with photochromic compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,869 issued to Amon et al describes reversibly photochromic printing inks. U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,362 issued to Yasuda et al. describes various photochromic materials. Photochromic ink formulations for metal decorating applications are conspicuously missing from the patent literature.
Fluorescent ink formulations are also known in the patent literature. These most often pertain to ink jet inks, but fluorescent inks are also used for security applications. Fluorescent metal decorating offset inks are conspicuously missing from the patent literature. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,997, issued to Hayes describes a water base fluorescent ink for ink jet printing, U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,192, issued to Liu et al. describes a solvent based fluorescent ink composition for ink jet printing. U.S. Pat. No. 7,141,105 issued to Udagawa et al. describes a water-based fluorescent ink, a recorded image using the ink, and a judging method. U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,671, issued to Herget et al. describes an offset printing ink.
Near infrared absorbing dyes have been incorporated into inks and used to enhance document security. Many of these formulations rely on detecting the near infrared fluorescence emission of dyes rather than monitoring NIR absorbance intensity. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,069, issued to Auslander describes a composition for invisible ink that is responsive to infrared light. U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,646, issued to Lazzouni et al. describes an infrared printing ink. U.S. Pat. No. 6,706,460 B1 describes stable IR dye compositions for invisible marking.


A device for power actuating a valve or other controlled unit, including a member operable by movement in opposite directions to move the controlled unit to different positions, a spring yieldingly urging the member in one of those directions, and a latching mechanism which is urged by the pressure of a body of fluid to a condition releasably retaining the member against movement by the spring. The latching mechanism is constructed to have a mechanical advantage enabling a relatively small force exerted by the body of fluid to resist a much greater force exerted by the spring. The latching mechanism includes two latching elements which are interengageable to releasably retain the member against movement by the spring, with one of the elements being shiftable in opposite directions by a manual operating member to manually actuate the member and also to vary the position in which the latching mechanism retains the member.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,717 issued Mar. 12, 1985 on "Shock Actuated Unit" shows an actuator in which a controlled member is urged in a predetermined direction by a spring or other yielding means, and is releasably retained against movement in that direction by a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism is released automatically when subjected to a shock force of predetermined magnitude, to free the member for spring induced movement which may for example effect closure of a controlled valve. The controlled member is also manually actuable by a hand wheel or other manual operating element, to actuate the valve by hand between its different positions and to vary the position at which the latching mechanism retains the member. The apparatus of that prior Patent includes a differential gear arrangement for adjusting the relationship between the manually operated control element and the other portions of the apparatus.


A method, system and computer program product for generating sets of training programs for machine learning models. Fixed values of one or more workload metrics are received from a user, where the workload metrics correspond to low-level program features which define particular low-level application behavior. A profile using the fixed values of the workload metrics is then created. A suite of synthetic applications is generated using the created profile to form a set of training programs which target particular aspects of program behavior. A machine learning model is then trained using the set of training programs. Since the generated synthetic applications provide a broader coverage of the program state-space, the formed set of training programs more accurately targets performance behavior thereby improving the prediction accuracy of the machine learning based predictive models.

Fast and efficient design space exploration (referring to the systematic analysis and pruning of unwanted design points based on parameters of interest) is a critical requirement for designing and optimizing computer systems. But the growing complexity of hardware systems coupled with the rapid pace of development of new software technologies make efficient design space exploration challenging. Generally, detailed simulation-based techniques are employed for performing accurate performance/power analysis of programs. However, the high computational cost/run-time of detailed simulators and large workload sizes affects the efficiency of elaborate design space exploratory studies. Machine learning (ML) based predictive modeling has been proposed and widely explored in several research studies as a popular alternative that enables fast design space exploration. ML models have also been adopted in the industry finding applications in several areas, such as server-scheduling, cluster maintenance models, operating system scheduling, etc. For example, Google uses machine learning models for scheduling on their clusters.
A typical supervised learning-based ML framework employed for computer system modeling is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates the machine-learning based framework 100 which consists of two phases: a training phase 101 and a prediction phase 102. Training phase 101 involves learning the inherent behavioral patterns of a set of training applications 103 by extracting features 104 used to train a learning algorithm 105. A predictive model 106 is then created based on the learned patterns from learning algorithm 105.
Prediction phase 102 involves the created ML model 106 using a test program 107 for predicting desired metrics 108 for new test applications (target applications). However, as model 106 learns patterns based on the behavior of training applications 103, its accuracy depends significantly on the ability of training set 103 to represent the wide-range of real-world applications that are run on any modern computer system. If the target applications have similar performance behavior as training applications 103, the accuracy of model 106 will be higher and vice-versa.
Most prior studies leveraging machine learning for computer design exploration select their training sets from standard benchmarking suites, such as SPEC-CPU®, SPECjbb®, MiBench, Implantbench, TPC-C®, TPC-H, etc. These suites consist of a "few" selected benchmarks representing certain classes of applications and are useful for benchmarking computer systems in general. But the number of applications included in such suites is often far from being sufficient for capturing the workload space and training any statistical model effectively. Furthermore, as standard benchmarking suites evolve at a much slower pace as compared to real-world software development, they are not always representative of the entire suite of applications that are run on modern-day computer systems. Furthermore, the significantly long run-times of many standard benchmarks limit several past studies to train their models running either short subsets of the benchmarks or using reduced input sets, which further reduces the representativeness of the training application sets. Alternatively, hand-written micro-benchmarks may be used for training predictive models, however, they are harder to write and increase the training time, which limits the number of micro-benchmarks that can be used to have a representative training set.
Hence, the training sets that are currently used for training machine learning models for computer system modeling have limited coverage of the program state-space thereby limiting the prediction accuracy of the machine learning models.

Generating sets of training programs for machine learning models

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


Ski pole straps separate from wrist straps are adapted to be releasably coupled by fastening means such as buckles or Velcro fasteners. The ski pole straps are adapted to be fastened to releasably attach the ski poles together. The wrist straps are adapted to be releasably attached to facilitate carrying ski boots and skis together with ski poles by hand. A sling strap is adapted to be fastened to the wrist straps to facilitate carrying ski boots and skis together with ski poles over the shoulder.

This invention relates generally to ski equipment, and, more particularly, to a novel system for attaching a ski pole to the hand of a skier which may then be advantageously converted to other applications while skiing and before and after skiing.
For safety reasons, ski resorts require that ski poles be released from the skier's wrists prior to riding a ski lift. Today it is conventional to have wrist straps with loops permanently attached to ski poles which straps are removed from the skier's wrists at some point before actually being seated on the ski lift. Normally, it is difficult, awkward and time consuming to remove the hand from the loop of each of the wrist straps, especially while wearing heavy gloves or mittens.
A number of ski carriers have been proposed, some of which also facilitate carrying poles as well. In this regard, the skis are placed in a tandem back-to-back position with straps placed around the skis and the poles are placed in loops. The difficulty with these systems is the requirement that the carriers must be carried on the person of that skier during skiing.
Similarly, boot carrying straps are a separate carrier system which will also be carried by the skier during skiing.

Ski pole strap and ski and boot carrier system


Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software for providing enhanced reliability for information services. In an implementation, a method performed by a first data processing system is disclosed for operating a proxy service to support an information service provided by an application executed by a device remote to the first data processing system. The method comprises: registering the information service in association with an address unique to the information service; receiving information requests associated with the address via a data transmission network, wherein the information requests are sent from a second data processing system hosting an online service and remote from the first data processing system and the device; maintaining activity information indicative of whether any of the information requests were received while the application was in an unavailable state; and if the application has transitioned to an available state from a state different from the unavailable state, sending the activity information to the application.

Web services may be understood as a distributed computing technology that allows for the creation of platform and language independent client-server applications. Web services are commonly used to distribute information for other software and devices to consume, not humans, although such information may eventually be published in a human-consumable form, such as a website or other such formats.
In a brief example of a web service, a client contacts a web service in a server by sending a service request asking for information. The server returns the information through a service response. The service request may be an HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) request, for instance, while the service response may also be an HTTP message, although other protocols can be used. Web services are popular for implementing Internet-scale applications and may in some cases involve other protocols in addition to HTTP, such as WSDL (web services description language) for describing a web service and SOAP (simple object access protocol) for formatting web services messages.
Servers commonly use web services to exchange information and conduct transactions with each other where one server acts as the server-side of an exchange while another server acts as the client-side of an exchange. Client applications, such as web browsers, may also interact with servers via web services. Clients can function as the server-side of a web-services exchange, but usually act as the client-side because of the difficulty associated with contacting client applications behind firewalls or other mechanisms.
It is possible to implement the server-side of a web services exchange in a client application using a proxy service or some other intermediate function to facilitate the exchange of web services communications between the client application and a server. In such scenarios, a proxy service may represent a web service running in a client application to the world such that other elements may reach the client application through the web service. In an example, a voice calling application may include a web service. A proxy service may act as an intermediary through which a calling service can reach the web service to notify the voice calling application of incoming calls and other activity.

Enhanced reliability for information services


A field programmable gate array that includes a dedicated path that directly connects an I/O pad to a selected register in the array of programmable function units. For example, a direct connection (i.e., without a configurable interconnect point) is provided from an I/O pad, through an input driver, to the input of a selected register in a given PFU. Either this same path, or alternatively a different path, may be used to directly connect a register output from a given PFU to an I/O pad, through an output driver. This technique avoids the need for special I/O registers in the programmable input/output cells, thereby increasing the flexibility of use and ease of design of the FPGA.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuits that include a field programmable gate array.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Integrated circuits (ICs) have traditionally implemented a single function, or else functions that were defined by software programming. However, in either case, the logic architecture that implemented the functionality was fixed during the design of the IC. More recently, integrated circuits have been developed whose logic architecture can be changed after manufacture. For example, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have been developed whose logic functions can be established by the user. Referring to FIG. 1, a typical FPGA architecture is illustrated. The logic functions are typically done in Programmable Function Units (PFUs) 100, 101, 102, 103, which are alternatively referred to by workers in the art as Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs). Each PFU includes various logic circuit elements (AND gates, OR gates, NAND gates, NOR gates, flip-flops, multiplexers, registers, latches, and tri-state buffers, for example) that may be connected in a desired arrangement in order to implement desired logic and memory functions. For example, typical logic functions include combinatorial logic, adders, counters, and other data path functions. The combinatorial logic may be performed using look-up tables (LUTs) or logic gates, whereas sequential logic is typically performed using storage elements (registers) such as flip-flops and latches.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the PFUs are connected together by Routing Nodes (R-nodes), being illustratively the conductors in groups 104, 105, 106 and 107. In addition, Configurable Interconnect Points (CIPs) are used to connect two or more R-nodes together. The CIPs may be grouped as C-blocks (e.g., 108) and S-blocks (e.g., 109), whose functions are described below. (In a more recent type of FPGA design, a third set of conductors, referred to as "switching R-nodes" are used to make connections. These implement the functionality of the C-blocks and S-blocks in a manner that provides additional routing flexibility with a reduced total number of CIPs. However, more CIPs per path are typically required. Hence, the problems addressed herein are common to both types of designs). Due to their symmetric layout, FPGAs may conceptually be divided into more or less identical blocks of circuitry called Programmable Logic Cells (PLCs). For example, a given PLC (117) typically includes a single PFU (101), and the associated R-nodes and CIPs as described above. Around the periphery of the integrated circuit are programmable Input/Output cells (e.g., 111, 112), also referred to as "PIC" herein. These include Input/Output blocks (e.g., 113, 114, 115 and 116) that communicate externally to the integrated circuit via bondpads (e.g., 117, 118, 119, 120).
FIG. 2 then shows an example of how the connections inside the C-Block and S-Block can be implemented. In FIG. 2(A), a C-block is illustrated, wherein the vertical routing conductors 201 and 202 may be selectively connected to the horizontal routing conductor 203 by means of the CIPs 205 and 206. Similarly, the vertical routing conductors may be connected to the other horizontal conductors 204, 207, 208, 209 and 210 by the other CIPs illustrated. As shown in FIG. 2(A), each CIP is illustrated as a diamond, and typically comprises a field effect transistor having a first source/drain region connected to the vertical conductor, and a second source/drain region connected to the horizontal conductor. In FIG. 2(B), a typical S-block 250 is illustrated. The vertical conductor 251 is selectively connected to the horizontal conductor 253 by means of transistor 257, and to the horizontal conductor 254 by means of transistor 258. Similarly, the vertical conductor 263 is selectively connected to horizontal conductors 253 and 254 by means of transistors 259 and 260, respectively. The vertical conductors 251 and 263 are selectively connected together by transistor 262, whereas the horizontal conductors 253 and 254 are selectively connected together by transistor 261. In an analogous manner, the vertical conductors 252 and 264 and the horizontal conductors 255 and 256 may be selectively connected by the other transistors shown.
In the above embodiment, the gate of a given transistor is controlled by a register (not shown), or other means of storing the desired connectivity information. In the case of an n-channel transistor, when the gate voltage on the transistor is high, the transistor conducts, which connects the two conductors. When the gate voltage is low, the transistor does not conduct. The gate voltage is typically controlled by a program register or electronically-erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs). However, in lieu of field effect transistors, these connections may alternatively be made by other means, including electrically blown fuses and anti-fuses, for example. However, a drawback to these configurable connections is that a signal takes a longer amount of time to propagate through them, as compared to connections made through continuous conductors only (i.e., without a CIP). For most sections of the circuit implemented by the FPGA, the extra delay for the configurable routing can be tolerated for internally-generated signals. However, an application's input/output (I/O) signals are the signals which connect to an I/O pad, typically through either an input or output driver, and tend to be more demanding. These signals are often clocked when going out of the integrated circuit chip, and latched when coming in; they typically must be very fast. This is especially true for the I/O signals that connect directly from an I/O pad to the input or output of a register.
This problem has been addressed in some previous FPGA architectures by placing dedicated registers near the input/output (I/O) pads in the PICs. As shown in FIG. 3, a typical PLC 300 is shown that includes a PFU 302, which supplies an output signal to the PLC routing resources 307, which then programmably supply it to the PIC 301. The "data" output signal is clocked via a special register, being flip-flop 303, and supplied to the I/O bondpad 306 via the output driver 305. The 4-to-1 multiplexer 304 allows for selection of the non-inverted Q output of flip-flop 303, or the inverted output via inverter 307. It also allows for the "data" signal, or inverted "data" signal via inverter 308, to bypass the flip-flop 303 so as to be supplied in unclocked form externally to the integrated circuit. As noted above, the placement of the flip-flop 303 near the output bondpad allows for high-speed clocking of the signal off the integrated circuit chip. Note however that the output signal must travel from the PFU to the PIC via the routing resources 303, which includes R-nodes and at least one CIP, as described above. A similar situation exists with regard to the input circuitry, as shown in FIG. 4. The PIC includes the I/O bondpad 401, which in practice may be physically the same as I/O bondpad 306 in the output circuit. The input signal is supplied via input buffer 402 to the special register 403, and then via the routing resources 404 to the PFU 405 in the PLC 406. Again, the routing resources 404 include R-nodes and at least one CIP. In both cases, the special registers can be accessed only by the I/O pads, and have different functionality from those in the internal FPGA.
As shown in both FIGS. 3 and 4, the registers (303,403) in the PICs tend to have fewer inputs (such as clock enables and local set/resets) than those in the PFUs. For example, the PFU 302 includes a register, being illustratively flip-flop 309, that can receive a signal from the look-up table 310, which allows for accomplishing combinatorial logic. The look-up table may be bypassed by the multiplexer 311 if desired, and either a local or global reset may be supplied via OR gate 312. The PFU output is supplied to the routing resources via output driver 313. It can be seen that the PFU 405 in FIG. 4 is identical with that shown for FIG. 3. (It will be appreciated by workers in the art that numerous other PFU designs are possible.) Also as shown, there is typically a direct connection from a LUT to each of the registers in each PFU. However, the LUT is not available for the registers in the PICs. Hence, this prior-art solution is undesirable for many reasons, especially because the special registers in the PICs waste area on the integrated circuit if the I/O signals do not need to be latched. Furthermore, the presence of the special registers makes the software needed to configure the FPGA more difficult to implement. This is because the software must handle two distinct types of registers, as well as the fact that some registers have fast connections to an associated LUT, whereas others do not. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a circuit design that does not exhibit these problems.

Field programmable gate array with direct input/output connection


A liquid dispense head is provided which can be manufactured at a reduced manufacturing cost, will not react with dispense liquid containing biomolecules, and can dispense liquid droplets having a constant amount from individual nozzles. The liquid dispense head has reservoirs used as reservoirs for containing liquid, pressure chambers for applying a pressure to dispense the liquid, flow passages connecting the pressure chambers and the respective reservoirs. In the liquid dispense head described above, a part of the flow passage is formed of a minute through-hole provided in a glass substrate, and the inside diameter of the minute through-hole is continuously decreased or increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid dispense heads and manufacturing methods thereof, the liquid dispense heads being used, for example, for fabricating a microarray by dispensing a solution containing biomolecules such as proteins or nucleic acids onto a solid member.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, when various types of probe samples are to be dispensed on a microarray substrate, a contact-pin method or an ink-jet method has been widely used.
According to an ink-jet method, by decreasing pitches between nozzles, a high density microarray can be fabricated.
In addition, in a conventional liquid dispense device, in order to supply liquid from reservoirs independent from each other to respective nozzles, there have been disclosed a method for forming by a photolithographic technique a liquid feed plate integrated with a heater board functioning as a dispense energy generator, and a method for forming the aforementioned liquid feed plate by laminating a great number of alumina plates to each other.
In the aforementioned conventional liquid dispense device, since a great number of independent reservoirs and/or liquid flow passages communicating therewith are formed in a liquid feed plate by a photolithographic technique, the capacity and the number of the reservoirs have been disadvantageously limited.
In addition, since the heater board functioning as a dispense energy generator and the liquid feed plate are formed from a silicon substrate, and the flow passages penetrating in the thickness direction are formed using anisotropic etching, there has been a problem in that the nozzles can not be formed with a high density.
In addition, when the liquid feed plate is formed by laminating a great number of alumina plates to each other, a great number of plates having holes and grooves are laminated to each other. Then, tasks of machining the plates and laminating them with an adhesive are required, resulting in increase in manufacturing cost. In addition, there has been concern about the probability of reaction between the above adhesive and a dispense solution, that is, a solution containing biological polymer materials.

Liquid dispense head and manufacturing method thereof


A high-frequency switching circuit includes a high-frequency switching transistor, wherein a high-frequency signal-path extends via a channel-path of the high-frequency switching transistor. The high-frequency switching circuit includes a control circuit and the control circuit is configured to apply at least two different bias potentials to a substrate of the high-frequency switching transistor, depending on a control signal received by the control circuit.

High-frequency switches are used for passing or blocking high-frequency signals. In the case of passing a high-frequency signal, a high-frequency switch should have a low ohmic resistance and, in the case of blocking a high-frequency, the switch should have a constant capacitance, which is sufficiently small or even as small as possible. High-frequency switches may be realized in different technologies like GaAs technology or MOS technology (MOS=metal oxide semiconductor).
High-frequency switches are commonly used in mobile phones, which leads to the desire to have a high-frequency switch with a better trade-off between intermodulation characteristics, which are important for high data rate systems like UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), and current consumption, wherein a low current consumption is important for a high standby time of the mobile phone.


The present invention is directed to an apparatus and associated method for the sharing and communication of video and other surveillance related multimedia data by streaming video and other data from an emergency response unit to a variety of devices and other emergency response units. Surveillance data obtained through a variety of monitoring options, including sources external to the first response unit is wirelessly disseminated from that first response patrol car or similar emergency response unit, to any number of other devices on a digital network.

Security issues and other motivations for surveillance continue to drive wide scale deployment of systems that can provide monitoring in vehicles, buildings, parking lots and other areas. In some of these systems it is necessary to transmit acquired information to central monitoring locations, emergency response vehicles or to other devices. It is also the case that in some situations, it would be advantageous to have the ability to provide remote monitoring or access to non-party entities. Such non-party entities include law enforcement or emergency service agencies. Current systems are typically closed systems and tend to have proprietary communication schemes and thus provide limited access to data. These closed systems do not lend themselves to scalable widespread deployment or provide the opportunity for open access communication.
It is desirable to have a system that can acquire a wide variety of multi-media and environmental data, and secure such data so that it can be transmitted over a communication channel that may not have a large bandwidth. More specifically, it is desirable to have a system that enables wireless transmission of audio/video information to provide a more complete impression of a particular scene or emergency situation. Even further, it would be advantageous to have the ability to share among response units that are present at the scene of an incident, data that has been acquired by the first responding unit or any of the other response units in the vicinity.
While there are existing devices that transmit "live" over the internet or at least reasonably close to real-time, the vast majority of these devices are not of a commercial grade and thus tend to lack the resolution, security or refresh rate that would meet the demands of a satisfactory real-time streaming of video monitoring/surveillance systems for law enforcement. Even further, these devices are not suitable for, nor do they provide means for, enabling video streaming from one patrol car to other units.
There exists a need for a system that will provide improved data compression and networking capability for monitoring systems without necessitating large memory usage or large computational powers.
Existing technology in the realm of video surveillance and the application of such technology to enhance law enforcement or address and/or enhance law enforcement or emergency response functions have been very limited. This is particularly the case in the wireless arena and more specifically with respect to wirelessly sharing video data in real-time between response units at a scene. It would be advantageous to make data that is available to one mobile response unit, also available to others at the scene. Based on current practices and technology, when a patrol car for example has video or other multimedia data, that data at best can be transferred via some portable media, such as Digital Video Disk, Video Cassette Recorder tape, Compact Disk or in some instances a removable drive. Attempts to provide such information using technologies such as the internet or other network schemes have been limited for a number of reasons.
In order to stream video over the internet or any network a number of issues relating to the fact that these networks were not originally designed for streaming technologies need to be resolved. For example, because the internet is a shared medium that utilizes a best effort delivery mechanism, i.e. Internet Protocol (IP), to deliver content, it is not natively conducive to video streaming. The internet has no dedicated path between a source node and a destination node, thus packets of data are routed independently to the destination and may arrive in random orders, which would affect video streaming. Even further, the limited bandwidth of the internet connection may also present a bottleneck in video delivery. As such, much effort has gone into compressing data for video streaming. Some of these issues are further compounded when the connection between the source and destination involves wireless links.
What is needed is on-the-scene video capture and data sharing. In other words, one police squad car may acquire video data from an in-vehicle camera or other source that is pertinent to all responding units. The ability for the officer in that squad car to view and share what is being acquired with other officers at the scene or back at the precinct would enable tremendous collaboration, coordination, support and oversight. Ordinarily, patrol/squad cars or other emergency response units communicate and exchange audio information. The ability to also share visual information in real-time would provide some significant advantages as earlier identified. An efficient and timely exchange of information in the field would also enhance officer safety, situation assessment, response times and the resolution of problematic situations.

System and method for collaborating emergency response efforts through multimedia data dissemination


An inductive charging rack for providing electrical power to an implement includes a back, an inductive primary attached to the back, and a hanger for holding the implement. The rack may include a control for energizing the inductive primary and a transceiver for providing communication to and from the implement. The inductive primary could be attached to the surface of the charging rack or it could be incorporated within the rack.

A variety of rechargeable electronic implements now exist. For example, line trimmers, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers are now rechargeable devices. While the devices are very convenient, recharging the devices is difficult.
Each device may have a slightly different adapter and charger. Thus, to use several different devices requires the user to have a plethora of different chargers and adapters. Further, since the rechargeable electronic implements are often bulky, the placement of the chargers and adapters causes additional logistical problems.
A rack to enable easy recharging of electronic implements is therefore highly desirable.

Implement rack and system for energizing implements


A method of cleaning a reaction chamber having a wafer holder is provided. First, the reaction chamber is cleaned by a cleaning gas. Next, a protection film is formed on the inner surface of the reaction chamber, wherein a gap is formed between the protection wafer and the wafer holder, and a cooling gas is guided therebetween simultaneously.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method of cleaning a semiconductor equipment, and more particularly, to a method of cleaning a reaction chamber.
2. Description of Related Art
In the semiconductor fabrication process, the inner surface of the reaction chamber of the semiconductor equipment would be contaminated after a period of operation, namely a deposition or an etching process. If the reaction chamber is not cleaned, the wafer processed within the reaction chamber would be contaminated. Thus, the fabrication yield is substantially reduced. Therefore, it is critical that the reaction chamber must be cleaned regularly.
Currently, the conventional method of cleaning the reaction chamber comprises two steps. First, a plasma gas containing NF3 gas is used to clean the contamination on the inner surface of the reaction chamber. Next, a protection film made of oxide is formed on the inner surface of the reaction chamber.
However, the protection film would also be formed simultaneously on an electrostatic chuck (E-chuck), which is adopted for carrying the wafers. The protection film formed on the E-chuck would stick on the back side of the wafer, and may peel off during the subsequent process and cause contamination. Accordingly, this may lower the fabrication yield rate and fabrication throughput.
In the prior art, a method for preventing the protection film from depositing on the E-chuck is to cover a ceramic wafer on the E-chuck. However, the ceramic wafer may break due to overheat conditions when depositing the protection film. In order to resolve the above problem, helium gas was guided into the E-chuck and exhausted through outlets of the E-chuck for reducing the temperature of the ceramic wafer. However, the helium gas exhausted from the outlets would cause uneven stress of the ceramic wafer and becomes tilted, and one end of the ceramic wafer may contact the E-chuck. Furthermore, abnormal black powders may be generated on the E-chuck due to the high temperature condition where the E-chuck comes in contact with the ceramic wafer causing wear and tear of the E-chuck.

Method of cleaning reaction chamber, method of forming protection film and protection wafer


A method is described herein for reducing the number of feedback bits needed to send channel state information over a feedback channel from a receiving unit (e.g., mobile terminal, base station) to a transmitter unit (e.g., base station, mobile terminal) in a wireless communication system. In the embodiment, the receiver unit is capable of performing the following steps: (1) receiving a pilot signal from a transmit antenna located at a transmitter unit; (2) analyzing a channel tap associated with the transmit antenna and exploiting the temporal correlations of the channel tap to generate the following (i) a delta-modulated feedback bit indicative of a real part of a complex coefficient of the channel tap associated with the transmit antenna and (ii) a delta-modulated feedback bit indicative of an imaginary part of the complex coefficient of the channel tap associated with the transmit antenna; and (3) sending the two feedback bits over a feedback channel to the transmitter unit which analyzes the two feedback bits, and other feedback bits corresponding to other channel taps of this and other transmit antennas, to optimize the subsequent transmission of data to the receiver unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a method for feeding back detailed channel information from a mobile terminal (e.g., mobile phone, mobile station) to a base station in a wireless communication system.
2. Description of Related Art
In a frequency division duplex communication system, i.e., where the downlink signals (base station to mobile terminal) and uplink signals (mobile terminal to base station) are sent on different frequencies, the base station does not know information about the downlink channel since it does not receive any downlink signals. However, the base station could benefit from knowing this downlink information (e.g., amplitude and phase information for some or all of the channel taps of the communication channels) that is measured by the mobile terminal. In particular, the base station can use this channel information to adapt (e.g., power, frequency, modulation scheme, coding) data signals that are subsequently transmitted to the mobile phone. In this way, the base station can maximize the throughput to the mobile terminal. Accordingly, the capacity of the wireless communication system can be significantly increased by using a feedback channel to convey the detailed channel information from the mobile terminal to the base station. However, the quantity of channel information that needs to be fed back to the base station can take up too much bandwidth on the feedback channel between the mobile terminal and base station.
Today, the problem of feeding back such a large amount of detailed channel information can be solved by using a zero-memory quantization method. In the zero-memory quantization method, the real and imaginary parts of each channel coefficient of a channel tap of the channel are quantized to N levels and represented by [log2(N)] bits. Unfortunately, this method still consumes a large amount of bandwidth on the feedback channel. For example in a three-tap channel, the quantizing of real and imaginary parts to 16 levels requires sending [log2(16)]×2×3=24 bits per time unit.
Another way of solving the problem of feeding back such a large amount of detailed channel information is described in PCT Patent Application Ser. No. PCT/SE03/02039 filed on Dec. 19, 2003 and entitled "Adaptive Channel Measurement Reporting". The contents of this PCT Patent Application are hereby incorporated herein. Essentially, the PCT Patent Application describes various methods of compressing channel measurement reports, feeding back full or incremental reports and methods for varying the accuracy and periodicity of these reports based on the speed of the mobile terminal, the bandwidth and the complexity of the channel. The preferred compression method discussed includes sending only the channel state information for the strongest channel taps to the base station. Although this method generally works well to reduce the load on the feedback channel it still can use too much bandwidth. Accordingly, there is a need for a new method for reducing the number of bits that the mobile terminal needs to send channel information to the base station. This need and other needs are satisfied by the method of the present invention.

Delta modulation for channel feedback in transmit diversity wireless communication systems


A connector assembly consisting of a dielectric housing having at least one socket cavity defined in a front end thereof and a fixing recess defined at one outer side surface of the housing, a PCB securely fixed in the fixing recess by a sealing resin, and at least one indicator fixedly embedded in the sealing resin and secured between an inner side of the PCB and a bottom of the fixing recess, wherein the fixing recess is defined with a front opening at a front end thereof, therefore the at least one indicator emit light from the front opening of the fixing recess.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a socket connector assembly having at least one indicator secured between a PCB and a fixing recess defined at one outer side surface of a dielectric housing.
2. Description of Related Art
The RJ45 connector has become a standard type socket connector used in the local area network (LAN) to connect computers and servers together. As shown in FIG. 7, a conventional assembly (7) comprises a dielectric housing (70) with stacked different types of socket (71) defined in a front end thereof and two fixing holes (72) defined at opposite sides in the front end thereof, a PCB (80) having a bracket (81) extending horizontally therefrom, an inner contact portion (82) arranged along the bracket (81), and two indicators (83) disposed according to the two fixing hole (72) and electrically connected with the PCB (80) via terminal pins (84). The PCB (80) is assembled on a rear end of the housing (70), the contact portion (81) is correspondingly extended into the socket (71) of the housing (70), and the indicators (83) are respectively inserted from rear end openings into the fixing holes (72).
It can be appreciated that because the terminal pins (84) are particularly long, obstructions are often produced in the fixing holes (72) when the indicators (83) and terminal pins (84) are inserted from the rear openings into the fixing holes (72), so that the acceptable rate of manufacturing of the conventional connector assembly (7) is low.
Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to provide an improved socket connector assembly to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a socket connector assembly having a dielectric housing with a fixing recess defined at one outer side surface thereof to receive a PCB securely fixed therein by a sealing resin, and at least one indicator secured between the PCB and the fixing recess. Whereby the indicator is easily assembled on the socket connector assembly, and the acceptable rate of the manufacturing of the connector assembly is therefore improved.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.