A soft error protection device includes a soft error resilient latch (SERL) and a latch coupled to a detection device and receiving a soft error pulse and a clock (CLK) signal respectively outputted by an electronic element and a CLK generator. The SERL delays the soft error pulse. In the period of a negative level of the CLK signal, the SERL stores the delayed soft error pulse corresponding to the negative level and used as a first detection data. Meanwhile, the latch stores the soft error pulse as a second detection data. The detection device receives the CLK signal, the first and second detection datum, and compares the first and second detection datum to send out a detection signal when the CLK signal rises from the negative level to a positive level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protection device, particularly to a soft error protection device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Soft error is a transient fault, induced by one particle in cosmic striking the sensitive region of a transistor with deposited charges, latched by a memory element after propagation. In recent years, since the technology keeps scaling down and the parasitic capacitance in the circuit becomes smaller, the circuit is more susceptible to the soft error. Therefore, many advance architectures of the latch were proposed to protect the occurrence of soft error.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,380,781 used the loading transistor to enlarge the capacitance and eliminate the unexpected pulse. However, the loading transistor may cause an unequal transient and affect the normal operation. Therefore, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,774 disclosed two duplications of latches were proposed to vote and select the certain logic value, but such design has area overhead due to the replicated latches. Moreover, C-element was proposed in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,515 to protect the soft error and corrects the error value. However, these three techniques can only prevent the soft error in the memory cell but cannot protect the occurrence of soft error in the combination logics. As a result, Build-In Soft Error Resilience (BISER) was proposed in the conventional technology to protect the soft error occurring on both memory and combinational circuit. BISER uses the double latching, delay buffer and C-element to achieve the soft-error protection. However, BISER still has some issues and can be improved. For example, it requires a certain number of transistors, which also increases the probability of soft error and results in more area overhead.
To overcome the abovementioned problems, the present invention provides a soft error protection device, so as to solve the afore-mentioned problems of the prior art.


A system includes an agricultural conveyor system including an inner arm having a first end. The first end is configured to rotatably couple to an agricultural storage system. The agricultural conveyor system also includes an outer arm having a first end, a second end, and a pivot positioned between the first end and the second end. In certain embodiments, the first end of the outer arm is coupled to a mounting element, a second end of the inner arm is rotatably coupled to the outer arm at the pivot, and an agricultural conveyor is configured to rotatably couple to the second end of the outer arm. The agricultural conveyor system includes a rotation control assembly. The rotation control assembly is configured to couple to the agricultural storage system. The agricultural conveyor system also includes an intermediate link having a first end engaged with the rotation control assembly and a second end. In some embodiments, the agricultural conveyor system includes a latching mechanism coupled to the second end of the intermediate link. A latch of the latching mechanism is configured to transition between a latched position and an unlatched position. In some embodiments, the latch captures the mounting element in the latched position and the latch releases the mounting element in the unlatched position.

The invention relates generally to agricultural systems and, more particularly, to a latch mechanism for an agricultural conveyor system.
Generally, seeding implements are towed behind a tractor or other work vehicle. These seeding implements typically include one or more ground engaging tools or openers that form a seeding path for seed deposition into the soil. The openers are used to break the soil to enable seed deposition. After the seeds are deposited, each opener is followed by a packer wheel that packs the soil on top of the deposited seeds.
In certain configurations, an air cart is used to meter and deliver agricultural product (e.g., seeds, fertilizer, etc.) to ground engaging tools within the seeding implement. Certain air carts include a metering system and an air conveyance system configured to deliver metered quantities of product into an airflow that transfers the product to the openers. Air carts may also include a product conveying system for moving product from an external source (e.g., a truck, a storage container, etc.) into the air cart. The product conveying system may include a hopper for receiving the product, and a conveyor for moving the product from the hopper to a storage tank in the air cart. Certain air carts include multiple storage compartments having independent openings for receiving product. In such configurations, a guide tube of the conveyor may be successively aligned with each opening to facilitate product flow into the respective storage compartment. In certain embodiments, the conveyor may be coupled to the air cart by an inner arm and an outer arm.
Each arm may include an independent actuating cylinder configured to adjust a position of the respective arm relative to the air cart. Unfortunately, coordinating movement of the inner and outer arms to align the guide tube with each storage compartment opening may be difficult and time-consuming, thereby increasing the duration associated with loading product into the air cart. Moreover, the arms may be coupled to associated equipment that restricts movement or rotation of the arms. For example, the associated equipment may limit the rotation of the arms relative to the air cart. As a result, alignment of the hopper may be difficult and time-consuming.

Latch mechanism for an agricultural conveyor system


A speech synthesis method, in which speech units are concatenated using a DB, wherein the speech units to be concatenated are determined and divided into a left speech unit and a right speech unit. The length of an interpolation region of each of the left and right speech units is variably determined. An extension is attached to a right boundary of the left speech unit and an extension to a left boundary of the right speech unit. The locations of pitch marks included in the extension of each of the left and right speech units are aligned so that the pitch marks can fit in the predetermined interpolation region. The left and right speech units are superimposed after fading out the left speech unit and fading in the right speech unit. Accordingly, a determination of whether extra-segmental data exists or not is made, and smoothing concatenation is performed using either an interpolation of existing data or an interpolation of extrapolated data depending on the result of the determination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Text-to-Speech Synthesis (TTS), and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for smoothed concatenation of speech units.
2. Description of the Related Art
Speech synthesis is performed using a Corpus-based speech database (hereinafter, referred to as DB or speech DB). Recently, speech synthesis systems perform suitable speech synthesis according to their system specifications, such as, DB size. For example, since large-size speech synthesis systems contain a large size DB, they can perform speech synthesis without pruning speech data. However, every speech synthesis system cannot use a large size DB. In fact, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like can only use a small size DB. Hence, these apparatuses focus on how to implement good-quality speech synthesis while using a small size DB.
In a concatenation of two adjacent speech units during speech synthesis, reducing acoustical mismatch is the first thing to be achieved. The following conventional arts deal with this issue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,234, entitled "Waveform Blending Technique for Text-to-Speech System", relates to systems for determining an optimum concatenation point and performing a smooth concatenation of two adjacent pitches with reference to the concatenation point.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0099547, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Speech Synthesis without Prosody Modification", relates to speech synthesis suitable for both large-size DB and limited-size DB (namely, from middle- to small-size DB), and more particularly, to a concatenation using a large-size speech DB without a smoothing process.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0143526, entitled "Fast Waveform Synchronization for Concatenation and Timescale Modification of Speech", relates to limited smoothing performed over one pitch interval, and more particularly, to an adjustment of the concatenating boundary between a left speech unit and a right speech unit without accurate pitch marking.
In a concatenation of two adjacent voiced speech units during speech synthesis, it is important to reduce acoustical mismatch to create a natural speech from an input text and to adaptively perform speech synthesis according to the hardware resources for speech synthesis.

Method and apparatus for synthesizing speech from text


Provided are applications of a hexokinase 2-specific inhibitor in preparing a medicament for preventing and treating acute central nervous system injury.

Stroke, either ischemic or hemorrhagic, is an acute cerebrovascular disease with brain damage caused by burst of blood vessels in the brain or diminished blood supply due to vascular occlusion. Ischemic stroke accounts for about 85% of the total cases. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is an FDA approved drug for ischemic stroke. However, t-PA is only suitable for 3-6 hours after stroke, and there is also a risk of cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral edema after treatment. These defects make t-PA application very limited and very few patients benefit. Therefore, safe and effective drugs that can be used for the prophylaxis and treatment of acute ischemic stroke are highly anticipated.
The immune system-mediated inflammatory response following acute ischemic stroke is a widely studied therapeutic target. However, the results of clinical trials of drugs using this mechanism as therapeutic targets are not satisfactory. For example, Fingolimod and Natalizumab, both being agents directing to peripheral immune system inflammatory response, are effective in inhibiting the penetration of lymphocytes into brain parenchyma, but clinical trials have shown that stroke patients do not benefit from such treatment. Therefore, in-depth exploration of the central nervous system inflammatory response mediated by microglia after ischemia is expected to provide new therapeutic targets and strategies for the prophylaxis and treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

Hexokinase 2-specific inhibitors for use in acute central nervous system injury

Guangzhou Cellprotek Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.


An apparatus has segments connected end-to-end so as to form a flexible tube, a base connected to a first segment of the segments, a clamp connected to the base for mounting the base, and a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the segments. A scope adapter can be connected to a last segment of the plurality of segments. An extremity adapter can be connected to a last segment of the plurality of segments. The clamp can mount the base to a mayo stand of a multi-purpose gurney. The clamp can also mount the base to a rail of a multi-purpose gurney.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to accessories for multi-purpose gurneys. Particularly, the present invention relates to accessories used during surgery. More particularly, the present invention relates to holders of accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates holders for a patient's extremities.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
Gurneys are often used in the hospital environment for patient support and transport. In particular, when a patient is taken to the operating room, the patient is placed upon a gurney and wheeled into the operating room. Once in the operating room, the patient is transferred from the gurney onto the surgical table so that the patient is in a proper position for surgery. The gurney is then removed from the operating room, or placed elsewhere, during the surgical procedure. Subsequent to surgery, the gurney is then returned to the operating room, the patient is placed upon the gurney, and then the patient is wheeled to other locations. The patient is also transferred from the gurney to a wheelchair when the patient leaves the hospital.
Unfortunately, the continual transfer of the patient from the gurney to the surgical table and from the gurney to the wheelchair, is inconvenient, time-consuming, tiresome and potentially injurious. Nurses, and other hospital personnel, often experience back pain, and other assorted injuries, during the transfer of the patient. Often, the patient must be physically lifted from the surgical table and placed upon the gurney and vice-versa. In other circumstances, the improper movement of the patient can adversely affect the surgical procedure or the results achieved from the surgery. As such, a need has developed whereby the gurney is actually used as the operating table and the wheelchair.
Various patents have issued relating to gurneys and operating tables. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,801, issued on Jun. 10, 1990 to Schuerch et al., teaches a patient transporting and turning gurney for receiving and lifting a patient from a hospital bed, for transporting and depositing the patient onto the hospital operating table, and for lifting and turning a patient for surgery. The gurney has a U-shaped base. This base is of sufficiently small dimension to fit under a hospital bed and of sufficiently large dimension to straddle the sides of the conventional operating table pedestal. The gurney further includes an overlying stretcher support for supporting a rotatable stretcher frame. A longitudinally extending rotating stretcher frame is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis on the stretcher support. There is provided a lifting device for moving the stretcher support upwardly and downwardly relative to the base.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,541, issued on May 12, 1992 to K. E. Wagner, describes a non-metallic gurney for patient transport. This gurney is formed of materials that are non-metallic, non-magnetic and of low electrical conductivity. This gurney is particularly used for modern non-invasive body scanning equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,176, issued on Jan. 4, 1994 to Chandler, describes a surgical operating table particularly adapted for shoulder arthroscopy. The table includes a central seat support, a leg support, and a back support modified to include detachable modular shoulder cut-out to gain access to the posterior aspect of the shoulder. The leg support and back support are hingedly connected to the seat support for positioning the patient in a seating posture by operating mechanical crank arms. The patient is first supported in a supine position, anaesthetized, secured to the table, and the table is thereafter configured to a sitting position. One of the modular shoulder cut-outs is then removed to provide access to the shoulder on which arthroscopy is to be performed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,406, issued on Jun. 19, 1973 to Koetter, discloses an adjustable bed particularly for use in hospitals and nursing homes for which a chassis is provided with at least one telescopically expandable pan, a bed frame tiltable relative to the chassis, at least one lifting assembly being disposed on the chassis, and at least one foot for each extendable part of the span. The bed frame has a middle portion and two end portions hinged to the middle portion. At least one lifting assembly is disposed at each end of the middle portion of the bed frame for adjusting the bed frame to various elevated and inclined positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,846, issued on Oct. 19, 2004 to Schuerch, discloses an adjustable position shoulder arthroscopy chair for surgical operating tables consisting of aback supporting platform pivotally attachable to the end of the table and an externally powered position actuator mounted at the base of the platform nearest the table and pivotally mounted to the platform at a location spaced apart from the base. The actuator is extendable and retractable and may be powered either electrically, hydraulically, or by compressed air. The extension and retraction of the actuator is controlled by a suitable device within the actuator or remote from it.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,876, issued on Jul. 27, 1999 to Haigh et al., discloses a device for adapting a surgical operating table such that the upper torso of the patient can be raised in order to place the patient in a seated position, the device further providing the means of exposing or supporting a side of the patient's upper torso and limbs. The device contains a continuously adjustable positioning mechanism, and corresponding actuator for the mechanism, in a way that a user can rapidly and conveniently put a patient in the desired position, from a supine posture to a fully seated position. Additionally, the device does not render the surgical table permanently modified, as the process of modification is reversible by means of a simple attachment mechanism. The device uses a back support section hingedly connected to a base frame, this base frame providing the attachment support to the surgical table. Side support panels are either moved out of the way on the patient's operative side, or left in place to provide support to the unaffected side. Two embodiments are described that differ solely in the way the back support surface is implemented.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,450, issued on Apr. 21, 1987 to Thompson, discloses a multi-position bed for use in hospitals. The bed has a base frame supported on casters and having a pair of pivoted angled lifting arms. One lifting arm is pivoted in turn to an interlink pivoted to a pivot bracket. Another lifting arm is pivoted directly to a second pivot. Pivot brackets act as the pivot supports for the center section of a mattress platform which also comprises two side sections. The side sections are not hinged directly to the center section but simply have inter-engaging features in the form of side frame registers. When the bed is used as a turning bed the inter-engaging features disengage. The side sections are carried by pairs of links which join the pivot brackets to the side sections at points underneath the side sections. These side sections are also connected by side frame pivot arms to an end pivot frame at each end of the bed. The pivot frame is rigidly connected to the center bed section. The movement of the bottom links is restricted in a downward direction by bottom link stops. The links may be disconnected and the side sections connected rigidly to the center section so that the mattress platform can be caused to tilt bodily in a lateral sense.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,274, issued on Apr. 18, 1978 to Willis et al., discloses a turning bed which can be tilted mechanically to turn the occupant from side to side, comprising a tilting assembly pivotally secured to a bed frame of known type. The tilting assembly consists of a mattress frame longitudinally divided into at least three parts: a center section with an outer section pivotally connected adjacent each longitudinal side of the center section. The pivotal connection is such that when the center section is tilted, the outer section adjacent the raised side of the center section is tilted as one with the center section, and the outer section adjacent the other side of the center section pivot relative thereto. The center section is pivotally supportable from the bed frame, and can be tilted by a lever secured at one end to the center section, the other end of the lever being moveable (by suitable means such as a screw-and-nut arrangement) to tilt the center section.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,671, issued on May 25, 1971 to Koetter, discloses an adjustable bed that has a chassis, a bed frame disposed on the chassis, two or three hydraulic cylinder piston units disposed at the ends of the bed, an articulated connection between the cylinder and the piston unit and the bed frame so that the bed frame may be moved to various elevated and/or inclined positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,862, issued on Sep. 9, 1952 to Pratt, discloses a hospital chair with a base, a frame having three section, and a mechanical lifter that adjusts the height of the chair up and down. The sections of the chair fold up and down to change the chair position to a flat position. The height and positions of the sections are adjusted manually.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,377,649, issued on Jun. 5, 1945 to Quinney, discloses a convertible chair that converts from a chair position to a bed position. Various mechanical ratchets and spools accomplish the objective of changing positions of the chair. The chair has a frame with three sections. The ends of the frame have legs for supporting the sections on the floor. The position of the convertible chair is adjusted manually.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,393,004, issued on Jul. 16, 1968 to Williams, discloses a hydraulic lift system for wheeled stretchers. The system has a lift mechanism that permits the direct placement of the patient-supporting in end-wise tilt in either direction from any previous position. The lift mechanism has a hydraulic lift cylinder, a positive-displacement pump connected to the hydraulic lift cylinder, a mechanism for operating pumps in unison, a reservoir connected to the pumps, a relief valve positioned between the hydraulic lift cylinder and the reservoir, and a hand-operated valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic lift cylinder.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,101,290, issued on Dec. 18, 1936 to Pierson, discloses an invalid chair with a frame having four sections and a base with wheels. The position of the sections is manually adjusted to change the position of the chair from a chair position to a bed position. The base of the chair is of a fixed height.
U.S. Pat. No. 503,969, issued on Aug. 29, 1893 to Huddleston, discloses a corpse dressing table with a movable head section. The head section moves upward relative to the rest of the table so as to position the torso of a corpse at an angle relative to the legs. The table can be folded upon itself for storage and transportation.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/139,946, filed on May 31, 2005 by the present inventor, discloses a gurney for use in arthroscopic surgery that has a base and a frame positioned above the base. The frame has a plurality of deck sections pivotally connected together. One of the deck sections is a torso support section and has a plurality of panels connected together. At least one of the panels is separable from the other panels. The height of the frame above the base can be suitably adjusted by the use of first and second rams which are connected to one of the deck sections. The pivotability of the deck sections and the height-adjusting mechanism allow the gurney to assume a variety of positions.
During surgical procedures, the surgeon's instruments are often in a very inconvenient location. In certain circumstances, the surgeon must drape the cords associated with the instruments over the patient or route the chords through inconvenient arrangements. Cord management is a continual problem for the surgeon during any surgical procedure. The improper routing and location of the cords can cause an improper operation of the instrument or restrict the surgeon from his or her desired use of the instrument. As such, a need has developed so as to provide instrument holders for surgeons during arthroscopic surgery.
In the performance of orthopedic surgery and related procedures, it is often necessary to support a patient's extremities, including one or more limbs, in a fixed position during the procedure, and also to vary the position from time to time. Often times, it is desirable to maintain such a limb, for example, in a fixed position during the surgical procedure so as to keep the procedure area as clear as possible and avoid the limb interference. In some cases, operating room personnel manually support the particular extremity. For example, the assistant may have to stand on a platform in order to manually hold the correct angle while the surgeon carries out the operation. Such use of operating room personnel to manually support a patient's extremities during a surgical procedure is undesirable because the assistant becomes tired over time and finds it necessary to change positions at a critical or otherwise inconvenient times. This may lead, for example, to actual trauma to the structures of the body. Furthermore, the assistant is unable to observe crucial aspects of the operation itself. Moreover, in addition to possibly interfering with the light available to the surgeon, the height of the assistant may increase the chances of contamination of the operating field. Thus, there is a need for a holder of a patient's extremities.
Various patents have issued and patent applications have been filed relating to holders for accessories and extremities. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/034,459, filed on Feb. 20, 2008 by the present inventor, discloses an ambulatory surgical gurney that has a base, a frame positioned above the base, and a lifting mechanism positioned between the base and the frame. The frame has sections pivotally connected together. The lifting mechanism has a first ram extending vertically between the base and the frame, a second ram extending vertically between the base and the frame, a lift arm pivotally connected to the frame, and a controller that controls the movement of the first and second rams and the lift arm. The upper end of the first ram and the upper end of the second ram are pivotally connected to the frame. An anaconda is attached to the frame. The anaconda has segments connected end-to-end and a ratchet spool.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,537, issued on Sep. 18, 2001 to Hopper et al., describes a patient support having a frame supporting a patient supporting surface as well as a pair of foot rest mechanisms thereon. The pair of foot rest mechanisms are each selectively movable from a stowed position beneath the patient supporting surface to a deployed position. A drop-leaf foot section forms a part of the patient supporting surface. The drop-leaf foot section is movable to a vertically upright position so as to expose a space between the two foot rest mechanisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,324, issued on Apr. 1, 1986 to B. E. McConnell, describes a positioning apparatus for use in surgical operating procedures. This positioning apparatus includes one or more generally vertically extending support arms which are connected at their lower ends to universal positioner mechanisms. These mechanisms may be adjustably positioned along a support bar suspended from and substantially rigidly connected to the operating table. The positioning mechanisms include a ball-and-socket coupling including a spaced-apart support block having socket portions for forcibly engaging the block under the urging of a plurality of springs. A lever-actuated cam connects to a foot pedal to operably release the biasing force on the support blocks, whereby the position of the support arm connected at one end to the ball may be finely adjusted over a wide range of positions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,465 is continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,324 disclosing a similar apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,609, issued on Mar. 15, 1988 to B. E. McConnell, describes a surgical drape having limb-securing structures. A boot of conformable impervious material is attached to the surgical drape for receiving the patient's limb. The boot has a tubular sidewall defining a pocket which is joined in registration with the opening of the drape.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,756, issued on May 30, 1995 to B. E. McConnell, describes an arm traction device. This arm traction device has a traction bar in combination with a hand wrap, or hand-and-arm wraps, for suspending and orienting a patient's hand and arm in a substantially elevated position during a surgical procedure. The hand wrap is attached about the patient's closed fist and the traction bar is bendable. The traction bar includes hook-and-loop material so that the traction bar may be conformed to the hand and attach itself securely in place to the top and opposing side surfaces of the hand-wrapped fist so that rotational or traction forces may be applied to the hand and arm.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,334, issued on Jul. 7, 1998 to Lamb et al., describes a limb positioning apparatus for surgery. This limb positioning apparatus has a structural member with a compartment having an opening thereto. This structural member is supported at a predetermined position relative to the limb and at a certain distance from the limb. A first line is linked or attached to the limb and connected to a constant force spring located within the compartment of the structural member. A second line is attached to the limb and is also connected to a constant force spring lying within the compartment of the structural member. The forces exerted by the first and second constant force springs are applied cumulatively or alternately to provide a pre-determined tension force on the limb of the patient thereby positioning the limp appropriately.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,135, issued on Sep. 28, 1999 to J. E. Molina, describes an arm holder for a transillary first rib resection. This apparatus includes a support assembly, such as a sling, for supporting the limb during the surgical procedure, and a mounting assembly slidably coupled to the support assembly by at least one slide rod. The support assembly is vertically positionable relative to the mounting assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,406B2, issued on May 20, 2003 to VanSteenburg et al., discloses a surgical table that has an articulated leg section with accessory attachment rails on opposite sides thereof. A shoulder surgery attachment for the surgical table includes a chair back assembly having a base on one end thereof and a cooperating second connector at each of its sides. Each second connector is releasably attachable to its corresponding first connector. A pair of mounting blades are provided on opposite sides of the base. A rail clamp is positionable along the attachment rails to be fastened to each of the attachment rails to provide a first connector at each side of the leg section.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,300, issued on Sep. 2, 1997 to Micheldson, discloses a gooseneck instrument holder having an instrument holder tip, a gooseneck, a base and a detachable fiber-optic light cord. The tip, gooseneck, and base are connected by means of a cable which passes through a deflection member in the base. Tension on the cable is adjusted by a detachable handle at the base via a bolt and serves to simultaneously tighten the tip about an instrument, to hold the gooseneck in place, and to hold the base steady so that the holder holds an instrument in place. Very small amounts of turning of the handle is necessary to adequately tighten the holder in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,900, issued on Feb. 13, 2001 to Rathnakar, discloses a flexible shaft comprising a flexible outer tube containing a shaft core with specially designed links that closely fit within the smooth interior of the outer tube. The links are substantially rectangular and have a construction which limits a flex angle between links. The links may include stop surfaces which limit the flex angle to prevent kinking or to limit longitudinal movement of the links with respect to one another.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,432, issued Apr. 19, 2005 to Hsieh, discloses a ratchet socket for fitting onto a screwed member. The ratchet socket is drivable by a tool to wrench the screwed member. The ratchet socket includes a cylindrical main body formed with at least one internal circular hole and at least one through hole formed on the circumference of the main body and communicating with the circular hole, and a ratchet mechanism including a ratchet wheel rotatably disposed in the circular hole, a dog member movably accommodated in the through hole and a resilient hoop fitted around the main body to exert a resilient force onto the outer side of the dog member so as to keep the dog member resiliently engaged with the ratchet wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 401,681, issued on Apr. 16, 1889 to Brown, discloses a flexible power shaft that has a flexible sleeve made of leather or rubber, a helical wire coil enclosed in the flexible sleeve, and a chain extending in the interior of the helical wire coil. The shaft is made in sections coupled together successively. The two ends of each sections are similar so that the sections can be connected together end to end.
It is an object of the present invention to hold a scope used in arthroscopic surgery.
It is another object of the present invention to hold a patient's extremity during surgery.
It is another object of the present invention to provide hands-free use of any accessory used during surgery.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that easily connects to an operating table or multi-purpose gurney.
It is still another object of the present invention to position accessories when a patient is in a beach-chair or lateral-decubitus position.
It is another object of the present invention to position extremities of a patient when the patient is in a beach-chair or lateral-decubitus position.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.


A system and method for establishing a return path in a cable television test environment. A cable television test environment comprising a plurality of head-ends connected to a plurality of set top boxes through a one-way forward matrix switch having “M” inputs and “N” outputs is adapted to provide a reverse path for each of the available “N” outputs. A low band reverse signal is received from each of a plurality of set top boxes. The low band reverse signal from each of the plurality of set top boxes is combined to produce a composite signal. The composite signal is split into a plurality of composite signal sources. Each of the composite signal sources is sent to each of the plurality of head-ends (M) via the transmission means connecting that head-end to the matrix switch. The low band composite QPSK signal from the source diplexer travels in the reverse direction to the head-end. Each head-end is assigned a unique set of frequencies for return communications from the STBs serviced by that head-end. A QPSK demodulator in a head-end demodulates its assigned return frequencies as they appear in the low band composite QPSK signal.

Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to RF matrix switching systems, and more particularly to provide a return path in a forward path RF matrix switching system for use in a cable television system.
The primary function of a switch fabric is to pass traffic between input and output interface cards (referred to as the "forward" direction). RF matrix switches are designed to connect input signals from multiple sources to any one of a set of output devices. Typically, an output may have only one input. The forward path input-to-output switching is managed via a controller that maps the inputs and outputs and allows for reconfiguration on the fly.
In a cable environment, RF matrix switches are used to switch signals from multiple head-ends to set top boxes (STBs) for testing and evaluation. Manufacturers of STBs are constantly revising and upgrading STBs to add functionality, improve performance, and to reduce manufacturing costs. It is important for cable providers to test STBs under "real-world" conditions using live signals from operating head-ends before placing such devices in service. However, changes in the real-world requirements for STBs have not been met with concomitant changes in RF matrix switch technology.
The earliest cable television (CATV) systems were, in effect, strategically placed antennas with very long coax cables connecting them to subscribers' television sets. Content was transmitted as an analog signal and the signal path was one-way from the cable head-end to the subscriber's terminal (that is, the "forward" direction). As the number of program options grew, the bandwidth of cable systems also increased. Early systems operated at 200 MHz, allowing 33 channels. As technology progressed, the bandwidth increased to 550 MHz, with the number of channels increasing to 91.
In 1976, the coax trunk cables that carry signals from the CATV head-end to distribution nodes were replaced with fiber-optic cables, leaving only the drop to the subscriber as copper-based. The hybrid fiber network (HFN) offered many advantages over the pure copper-coax cable networks. From a technical perspective, fiber-optic cable does not suffer the same signal losses as coaxial cable, which eliminated the need for so many amplifiers. Decreasing the number of amplifiers made dramatic improvements in signal quality and system reliability and made possible two-way communication over the HFN.
With the introduction of digital signal processing in the late eighties, the analog redistribution system of the fifties entered the digital age. Digital processing and fiber-optic cable made it possible for signals to be sent from the subscriber to the head-end (that is, the "reverse" direction). In the 1990s, cable providers took advantage of the digital architecture to provide Internet access through cable modems. Other services are being planned, including voice over Internet Protocol.
The set top box was originally introduced to convert analog signals from cable head-ends to television channel frequencies that could be viewed on a television. Like other components in the CATV system, the set top box has evolved into an addressable terminal that can be accessed by the CATV system operator and, more recently, that provides a return path for communications initiated by a subscriber. Because current RF matrix switches provide one-way forward path connectivity between head-ends and STBs, there is no automated system for testing the forward path functions of an STB.
It is desirable to implement systems and methods to provide a path for a return signal from an STB to a head-end in a CATV testing environment.

Establishing a return path in a forward path cable television testing environment


A receiver for bidirectional signal transmission, where signals are sent and received in both directions over a signal transmission line, has a signal line, a first hold capacitor, a signal line voltage buffer circuit, a hybrid circuit, and a decision circuit. The signal line is connected to the signal transmission line, the first hold capacitor is used to hold a signal, and the signal line voltage buffer circuit is used to buffer a voltage of the signal line. Further, the hybrid circuit is used to output a received signal by separating the received signal from the signal line voltage buffered by the buffer circuit, and the decision circuit is used to make a decision on the logic value of the received signal separated and output by the hybrid circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signal transmission technology for transmitting signals at high speed between a plurality of LSI chips or a plurality of devices or circuit blocks within a single chip, or between a plurality of boards or machines, and more particularly, to a receiver, hybrid circuit, driver circuit, and signal transmission system for bidirectional signal transmission for carrying out such signal transmission in both directions simultaneously.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the performance of components used to construct computers and other information processing apparatuses has improved greatly; indeed, dramatic performance improvements have been made, for example, for semiconductor memory devices such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and processors and the like. The improvements in the performance of semiconductor memory devices, processors, and the like have come to the point where system performance cannot be improved further unless the speed of signal transmission between components or elements is increased. Stated more specifically, the speed of signal transmission between a main storage device such as a DRAM and a processor (i.e., between LSIs), for example, is becoming a bottleneck impeding performance improvement for a computer as a whole.
The need for the improvement of signal transmission speed is increasing not only for signal transmission between machines or boards (printed wiring boards), such as between a server and a main storage device or between servers connected via a network, but also for signal transmission between chips or between devices or circuit blocks within a chip because of increasing integration and increasing size of semiconductor chips, decreasing supply voltage levels (low-voltage-swing signals), etc. It is therefore desired to provide a receiver and hybrid circuit (hybrid) for bidirectional signal transmission, capable of achieving high-speed transmission. It is also desired to provide a driver circuit having a linear output impedance suitable for bidirectional transmission or multilevel transmission that can increase the efficiency of use of a signal transmission line or can reduce the number of signal lines without decreasing the signal transmission speed, and a signal transmission system using such a driver circuit.
In order to address the increase in the amount of data transmission between LSIs or between boards or machines, signal transmission speed per pin must be increased. This is to avoid an increase in package cost, etc. due to increased pin count. As a result, inter-LSI signal transmission rates exceeding 1 Gbps, for example, have been achieved in recent years, and in the future (three to eight years from now) signal transmission rates are expected to reach extremely high values (achieving very high signal transmission rates) such as 4 Gbps or even 10 Gbps.
At such high signal frequencies, however, loss occurs in the high signal frequencies due to the skin effect of a signal transmission line, which, coupled with such factors as high-frequency component reflections due to the effects of parasitic inductance and parasitic capacitance, limits the bandwidth of the transmission line. Such limitations may be alleviated, for example, by using large-core cables, but in applications where a large number of signal lines need to be bundled in parallel for large-capacity data transmission, there is a limit to increasing the diameter of the cable bundle. In this way, as the signal transmission frequency increases, there occurs a situation where the signal transmission line itself becomes a bottleneck in signal transmission.
To eliminate such a bottleneck, various techniques are employed, such as bidirectional transmission that transmits signals in both directions simultaneously and multilevel transmission that transmits a large number of bits using one symbol. In bidirectional transmission, a hybrid circuit is used that has the function of separating the net signal voltage for output by subtracting it from the signal voltage of the signal line the signal being sent out by the driver of the hybrid circuit.
Further, in high-speed signal transmission, it is practiced to terminate a signal line in the characteristic impedance of the transmission line (impedance matching) because non-matched line termination would cause signal reflections resulting in the disturbance of signal waveform. This impedance matching must be done not only at the receiving end of the signal line but also at the transmitting end. This is necessary to absorb reflections from impedance un-matched points, such as a connector and a package, at the transmitting end as well.
Among known methods practiced to reduce the number of signal lines are bidirectional transmission and multilevel transmission that transmit a plurality of bits using one symbol, but these methods require not only that the value of line termination be matched to the line impedance, but also that its nonlinearity be minimized. This is because if nonlinearity exists, in bidirectional transmission an error would occur when subtracting from the received signal the contribution being made by the driver at the receiving end, while in the case of multilevel transmission, the number of bits per symbol would be limited.
The prior art and problems associated with the prior art will be described in detail later with reference to drawings.
An object of the present invention is to provide a receiver and hybrid circuit for bidirectional signal transmission, that resolve the problem of the kick-back noise that a hybrid circuit has on its input side. Another object of the invention is to achieve bidirectional transmission or multilevel transmission capable of utilizing the bandwidth of transmission line efficiently by providing linearity to the impedance of a driver circuit.
According to the present invention, there is provided a receiver for bidirectional signal transmission in which signals are sent and received in both directions over a signal transmission line, comprising a signal line connected to the signal transmission line; a first hold capacitor for holding a signal; a signal line voltage buffer circuit for buffering a voltage of the signal line; a hybrid circuit for outputting a received signal by separating the received signal from the signal line voltage buffered by the buffer circuit; and a decision circuit for making a decision on the logic value of the received signal separated and output by the hybrid circuit.
The decision circuit may generate a sum of a signal value obtained at the time that the hybrid circuit makes a decision on the logic value of the received signal separated and output by the hybrid circuit and a value obtained by multiplying an earlier obtained given signal value by a coefficient, and makes the decision by using the value of the generated sum. The buffer circuit may be a voltage buffer circuit, and the hybrid circuit may be a capacitive coupling hybrid circuit. The voltage buffer circuit may have a voltage gain of nearly unity, and the voltage buffer circuit and the signal line may be coupled together by a capacitor, and wherein during a non-operating period of the voltage buffer circuit, a node on the input side of the capacitor may be connected to an output of the voltage buffer circuit and an input node of the voltage buffer circuit may be precharged to a prescribed potential, thereby compensating for an offset voltage of the voltage buffer circuit.
The receiver may further comprise a reference voltage output circuit for controlling, in accordance with an output sequence of a driver a reference voltage for driving, an input node of the capacitive coupling hybrid circuit. The reference voltage output circuit may comprise a control voltage generating circuit for generating a plurality of control voltages in accordance with data of a signal sequence being sent out by the driver; a plurality of reference voltage buffers for receiving the control voltages and for generating respective reference voltages; and a selection circuit for selecting an output of one of the plurality of reference voltage buffers in accordance with the data of the signal sequence.
The buffer circuit may be a transconductor for performing voltage-to-current conversion; and the hybrid circuit may convert the voltage of the signal line and a signal voltage of a replica driver into currents by using the transconductor, and may cause a current corresponding to the difference between the converted currents to flow into a load device to obtain the difference between the voltage of the signal line and the signal voltage of the replica driver, thereby separating the received signal for output. An offset compensating circuit including a first transistor and a second hold capacitor may be connected to the load device to which the current from the transconductor is supplied in the hybrid circuit; and in the offset compensating circuit, during a non-operating period of the buffer circuit, the first transistor may be connected in a diode-connected configuration and the second hold capacitor may be connected to a gate of the first transistor, while during an operating period of the buffer circuit, voltage on the second hold capacitor holds the gate voltage of the first transistor.
The current from the transconductor may be held using a hold circuit of a folded structure having a third hold capacitor and a second transistor, and wherein during a sampling period, the third hold capacitor may be connected to a gate of the second transistor connected in a diode-connected configuration and, during a holding period, the third hold capacitor may be disconnected from the gate and an output current from the hold circuit may be coupled to a load device that follows the hold circuit, thereby generating a weighted sum of signals taken at two adjacent sampling instants and thereafter making the decision using the weighted sum. The buffer circuit may include at an output stage thereof a push-pull source follower stage comprising an nMOS device and a pMOS device.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a receiver for bidirectional signal transmission in which signals are sent and received in both directions over a signal transmission line, comprising a signal line connected to the signal transmission line; a first hold capacitor for holding a signal; a hybrid circuit for outputting a received signal by separating the received signal from a voltage of the signal line; a reference voltage output circuit for outputting in accordance with an output sequence of a driver a reference voltage for driving an input node of the hybrid circuit; and a decision circuit for making a decision on the logic value of the received signal separated and output by the hybrid circuit.
The reference voltage output circuit may comprise a control voltage generating circuit for generating a plurality of control voltages in accordance with data of a signal sequence being sent out by the driver; a plurality of reference voltage buffers for receiving the control voltages and for generating respective reference voltages; and a selection circuit for selecting an output of one of the plurality of reference voltage buffers in accordance with the data of the signal sequence.
Further, according to the present invention, there is also provided a hybrid circuit for bidirectional signal transmission in which signals are sent and received in both directions over a signal transmission line, wherein the hybrid circuit is a capacitive coupling hybrid circuit having a hold capacitor for holding a signal, and wherein an input signal from the signal transmission line is supplied to the hold capacitor via a buffer circuit, and a received signal is output by separating the received signal from a signal line voltage buffered by the buffer circuit.
The hybrid circuit may further comprise a reference voltage output circuit for outputting in accordance with an output sequence of a driver a reference voltage for driving an input node of the capacitive coupling hybrid circuit. The reference voltage output circuit may comprise a control voltage generating circuit for generating a plurality of control voltages in accordance with data of a signal sequence being sent out by the driver; a plurality of reference voltage buffers for receiving the control voltages and for generating respective reference voltages; and a selection circuit for selecting an output of one of the plurality of reference voltage buffers in accordance with the data of the signal sequence.
The hybrid circuit may receive an output signal of a replica driver, which outputs a signal corresponding to an output of a driver that amplifies a signal and outputs the amplified signal onto the signal transmission line, an input signal from the signal transmission line, and a reference voltage, and separates the received signal for output. The hybrid circuit may convert the voltage of the signal transmission line and the output voltage of the replica driver into currents by using a transconductor, and may cause a current corresponding to the difference between the converted currents to flow into a load device to obtain the difference between the voltage of the signal transmission line and the output voltage of the replica driver, thereby separating the received signal for output. An offset compensating circuit may comprise a first transistor and a first hold capacitor may be connected to the load device to which the current from the transconductor is supplied in the hybrid circuit; and in the offset compensating circuit, during a non-operating period of the buffer circuit, the first transistor may be connected in a diode-connected configuration and the first hold capacitor may be connected to a gate of the first transistor, while during an operating period of the buffer circuit, voltage on the first hold capacitor holds the gate voltage of the first transistor.
The current from the transconductor may be held using a hold circuit of a folded structure having a second hold capacitor and a second transistor, and wherein, during a sampling period, the second hold capacitor may be connected to a gate of the second transistor connected in a diode-connected configuration, and during a holding period, the second hold capacitor may be disconnected from the gate and an output current from the hold circuit may be coupled to a load device that follows the hold circuit, thereby generating a weighted sum of signals taken at two adjacent sampling instants and thereafter making the decision using the weighted sum.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a driver circuit comprising a first transistor having a first terminal connected to an output signal line, a second terminal connected to a first power supply line, and a control terminal; a second transistor connected in parallel with the first transistor and having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal; and a control circuit for controlling a voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the second transistor, in accordance with a potential of the output signal line.
The first power supply line may be a high voltage supply line, and the first transistor may operate to pull up the output signal line. The first power supply line may be a low voltage supply line, and the first transistor may operate to pull down the output signal line. The control circuit may be a voltage shift circuit which produces a shift voltage by shifting the voltage of the output signal line by a given value in an approximating manner, and which applies the shift voltage to the control terminal of the second transistor. The voltage shift circuit may produce the shift voltage by flowing current through a voltage shifting load device connected to the output signal line. The voltage shifting load device and the first and second transistors may be of the same channel conductivity type. The driver circuit may further comprise an injecting circuit for injecting a charge or current for speeding up an OFF to ON change of the voltage applied to the control terminal of the second transistor when switching the second transistor from an OFF state to an ON state.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a diver circuit comprising a first transistor having a first terminal connected to an output signal line, a second terminal connected to a high voltage supply line, and a control terminal, the first transistor operating to pull up the output signal line; a second transistor connected in parallel with the first transistor and having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal; a first control circuit for controlling a voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the second transistor, in accordance with a potential of the output signal line; a third transistor having a first terminal connected to the output signal line, a second terminal connected to a low voltage supply line, and a control terminal, the third transistor operating to pull down the output signal line; a fourth transistor connected in parallel with the second transistor and having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal; and a second control circuit for controlling a voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the fourth transistor, in accordance with the potential of the output signal line.
The driver circuit may be a differential constant-current driver, and the paralleled first and second transistors and the paralleled third and fourth transistors may act loads for the differential constant-current driver. The first control circuit may be a first shift voltage circuit which produces a first shift voltage by shifting the voltage of the output signal line of the driver by a given value in an approximating manner, and which applies the first shift voltage to the control terminal of the second transistor, and the second control circuit may be a second shift voltage circuit which produces a second shift voltage by shifting the voltage of the output signal line of the driver by a given value in an approximating manner, and which applies the second shift voltage to the control terminal of the fourth transistor. The first and second voltage shift circuits may produce the first and second shift voltages, respectively, by flowing current through voltage shifting load devices connected to the output signal line. The voltage shifting load devices and the first to fourth transistors may be of the same channel conductivity type.
The driver circuit may further comprise a first switch circuit inserted between the first control circuit and the control terminal of the second transistor, and a second switch circuit inserted between the second control circuit and the control terminal of the fourth transistor, and wherein, when either a pull-up load device constructed from the first and second transistors or a pull-down load device constructed from the third and fourth transistors is turned ON, a corresponding one of the first and second switch circuits may be turned ON and the other switch circuit may be turned OFF. The driver circuit may further comprise a pull-up circuit for pulling up the control terminal of the second transistor, and a pull-down circuit for pulling down the control terminal of the fourth transistor, and wherein, when the first switch circuit is turned OFF, the pull-up circuit may pull up the control terminal of the second transistor, and when the second switch circuit is turned OFF, the pull-down circuit may pull down the control terminal of the fourth transistor.
In addition, according to the present invention, there is provided a driver circuit comprising a first transistor having a first terminal connected to an output signal line, a second terminal connected to a first power supply line, and a control terminal; and a control circuit for controlling a voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the first transistor, in accordance with a control signal and a potential of the output signal line.
The first power supply line may be a high voltage supply line, and the first transistor may operate to pull up the output signal line. The first power supply line may be a low voltage supply line, and the first transistor may operate to pull down the output signal line. The control circuit may comprise a resistive device for connecting between the output signal line and the control terminal of the first transistor, and a resistive device control circuit for controlling the resistance of the resistive device by a voltage.
The control circuit may be a circuit constructed by combining a resistive device and a switch device. The switch device may be a transistor or a diode, and the control circuit may produce an output voltage whose dependence on the control signal and the potential of the output signal line is obtained by a so-called polygonal approximation circuit. The control circuit may include a capacitor for connecting between the output signal line and the control terminal of the first transistor. The control circuit may include a diode-connected transistor for connecting between the output signal line and the control terminal of the first transistor. A device for connecting between the output signal line and the control terminal of the first transistor may be of the same conductivity type as the first transistor, and a circuit for applying a bias current to the control circuit may be controlled so as to provide an impedance scaled to the impedance level of the first transistor.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a diver circuit comprising a first transistor having a first terminal connected to an output signal line, a second terminal connected to a high voltage supply line, and a control terminal, the first transistor operating to pull up the output signal line; a first control circuit for controlling a voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the first transistor, in accordance with a first control voltage and a potential of the output signal line; a second transistor having a first terminal connected to the output signal line, a second terminal connected to a low voltage supply line, and a control terminal, the second transistor operating to pull down the output signal line; and a second control circuit for controlling a voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the second transistor, in accordance with a second control signal and the potential of the output signal line.
The first and second control circuits may each comprise a resistive device for connecting between the output signal line and the control terminal of a corresponding one of the first and second transistors, and a resistive device control circuit for controlling the resistance of the resistive device by a voltage. The first and second control circuits may be each constructed by combining a resistive device and a switch device. The switch device may be a transistor or a diode, and the first and second control circuits may each produce an output voltage whose dependence on the first or second control signal and the potential of the output signal line is obtained by a so-called polygonal approximation circuit.
The first and second control circuits may each include a capacitor for connecting between the output signal line and the control terminal of the first transistor. The first and second control circuits may each include a diode-connected transistor for connecting between the output signal line and the control terminal of a corresponding one of the first and second transistors. A device for connecting between the output signal line and the control terminal of a corresponding one of the first and second transistors may be of the same conductivity type as the first and second transistors, and a circuit for applying a bias current to the first and second control circuits may be controlled so as to provide an impedance scaled to the impedance level of the first and second transistors.
In addition, according to the present invention, there is also provided a signal transmission system having a first driver circuit, a second driver circuit, and a signal transmission line; the first driver circuit and the second driver circuit being coupled through the signal transmission line, and bidirectional signal transmission being performed with each driver acting as a receiving end of a signal transmitted from the other through the signal transmission line, wherein each of the first and second driver circuit comprises the above described features.

Receiver, hybrid circuit, driver circuit, and signal transmission system for bidirectional signal transmission for carrying out such signal transmission in both directions simultaneously


A simulation system includes a processor including hardware. The processor performs an information acquisition process of acquiring position information of a user wearing a head mounted display to cover his/her field of view; a virtual space setting process of setting a virtual space where a moving body corresponding to the user is arranged and set based on the acquired position information; a moving body process of moving the moving body in the virtual space based on the acquired position information; and a display process of generating a display image on the head mounted display. In the virtual space setting process, the processor sets the virtual space such that a first moving body group and a second moving body group are arranged and set in a common virtual field of the virtual space.

The disclosure relates to a simulation system, a processing method, an information storage medium, and the like.
Simulation systems using head mounted displays (HMDs) have conventionally been known. The system enables a user wearing the HMD on his or her head to experience a virtual reality (VR) world by watching an image displayed on a screen of the HMD. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11-309269 discloses an example of a conventional technique of such a simulation system.
In the simulation system using an HMD, an image as viewed from a virtual camera in a virtual space is displayed on the HMD. With such an image displayed on the HMD, a vast VR space spreads over the entire field of view of a user, whereby virtual reality for the user can be largely improved.
However, when putting the HMD on his/her head, the user may not see anything around him/her or may have great difficulty in seeing things around him/her. In such an event, users may collide with each other or a user's equipment may collide with another user.

Simulation system, processing method, and information storage medium


A dry process for cold briquetting of metallurgical dusts, including converter steel dust, to provide transportable briquettes which do not give off dust, including the steps of admixing metallurgical dust and at least one basic additive selected from the group consisting of lime, dolomite, magnetite, dunite, olivine and bauxite, in burnt or unburnt form, to provide a mixture, and forming the mixture into briquettes at pressures in excess of 10,000 bar and at ambient temperature.

In the iron and steel industry, metallurgical dusts are produced in numerous metallurgical processes. Thus, in the manufacture of steel using known L.D.-processes, the corresponding converter steel dust is produced and is collected via suitable filtering plants. The dust has a very high metal content, iron being present in predominantly metallic or oxidic form, depending, in each case, on the method used.
The dumping of such dusts constitutes an increasingly difficult environmental and cost problem. Its high metal content argues in favour of a reutilization of the dust, and there was, therefore, also no shortage in attempts to return this dust into the steel manufacturing process.
Dusts having a high content of metallic iron and, above all, portions of pyrophoric iron, are briquetted using hot briquetting processes and are returned to the converter. Also known are the methods of direct feeding of dust into the converter and granulation processes, with the addition of binding agents. In the case of these last-mentioned methods, substances which are not very favourable for the metallurgical process, are, however, also introduced into the converter. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 833 630 describes a process for the briquetting of brittle ores, wherein the use of a special limestone mixed with magnesium oxide and Portland cement is regarded as being essential since, otherwise, an adequate strength of the ore briquette is not obtained. The water content of 18 to 20% contained in the ore is of decisive importance for the hydraulic reaction with the Portland-cement binding agent. In this known briquetting process, the desired strength of the ore briquette is obtained solely through the reaction of the Portland cement.
A similar process is described in DE-B 1 142 442. The subject matter of this publication is a process for the briquetting of refined ores. The basic additive, in particular magnesium hydrate and/or calcium hydrate, used for the briquetting of the refined ores, constitutes a binding agent which reacts with the carbon dioxide from the air to form a carbonate and, in this way, ensures the desired strength of the ore briquette.
Metallurgical dusts which require disposal or, if possible, recycling are also produced in other metallurgical processes, such as in the manufacture of electrosteel or in the aluminium industry.
It is now the object of the present invention to provide a new process for the cold briquetting of metallurgical dusts which will overcome the disadvantages of previously known processes and which permits an advantageous reutilization of, for example, converter steel dust in the converter.

Dry process for the cold briquetting of metallurgical dusts


A voltage translating control structure for switching logic is described. A battery drain problem is corrected by this structure. The voltage translating feature allows reliable switching between power supply and battery even if the power supply voltage has significantly decreased. Operation is adaptable to include all DC power systems. Logic circuitry that also allows voltage translation is presented.

Supervisory circuits are used to monitor power supply voltages and switch to or from a backup power source depending on the acceptability of the monitored voltage. Supervisory circuits are used in microprocessors, digital equipment, and various other electronic equipment and systems. A supervisory circuit commonly contains a switching circuit that is used to switch the load between power derived from the power supply and power derived from a battery, and back again. This switching circuit must furnish a high degree of isolation between switched power sources, so that for example the battery is not loaded by any part of the power supply circuitry when running off the battery. Circuit elements that may provide inadequate isolation during low power supply voltage conditions are the main switching circuit and other functional elements such as logic gates.


An assemblage which form a beveled edge in a slab-on-grade foundation trench. The device is comprised of straight members corner members, and a connector member to hold the larger members together, an angle brace to maintain the proper bevel angle of 45° degrees, and a stake to anchor the device to the ground. When the device is assembled it forms a box-like structure whose sides and corners are sloped inwards at a 45° degree angle. The device simply needs to be positioned within the perimeter form, and filled with dirt from digging the trench; in order for the device to properly function as a device designed to make foundations much stronger.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to foundation trenches for buildings, specifically to such trenches that are required by certain building code standards to have a 45° degree bevel incorporated into the trench.
2. Prior Art
The present system of slab-on-grade construction requires the layout and construction of the perimeter form, which is then filled with fill-dirt up to the height that will allow the proper slab thickness to be installed. The fill-dirt is neither packed or leveled. The trenches are dug, forming island-like, square or rectangular areas between the trenches. Dirt from the perimeter trenches is thrown outside the perimeter form. Dirt from the interior trenches is thrown on to the island which makes the island higher.
After the trenches are finished the island has to be lowered and leveled. Fill-dirt that was moved from the trenches to the islands has to be moved again; from the island to outside of the perimeter form. In the process of removing and leveling the fill-dirt, trenches frequently cave in.
Generally no effort is made to repair this widening of the trench. Additional traffic damage occurs when the foundation is covered with plastic film. The most serious traffic damage occurs when the metal reinforcement systems are installed. Falls and stumbling causes additional damage. Usually, no effort is made to cut or carve the code required 45° degree bevel into the foundation trench.

Beveled trench forming device for concrete slab foundations


A memory device includes a first main page buffer array configured to access data of a first main memory array; a second main page buffer array configured to access data of a second main memory array; a redundancy page buffer array configured to access data of a redundancy memory array replacing the first and second main memory array; a first redundancy transfer unit configured to transfer data between the redundancy page buffer array and the outside of the memory device through a first redundancy bus, when a first column address indicates one or more defective columns of the first main memory array; and a second redundancy transfer unit configured to transfer data between the redundancy page buffer array and the outside through a second redundancy bus, when a second column address indicates one or more defective columns of the second main memory array.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a memory device and a data input/output method thereof, and more particularly, to technology for increasing the efficiency and stability of a repair operation of a memory device, which is performed during data input/output.
2. Description of the Related Art
During a fabrication process of a semiconductor memory device, any one of a great number of memory cells may become defective. If the semiconductor memory device is discarded as a defective product due to some defective cells, it is inefficient in terms of yield.
Therefore, a defective unit cell is replaced with a redundant unit cell which is additionally installed in a memory device. Accordingly, the entire memory device is recovered to thereby increase the yield.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a repair operation in a conventional memory device.
The memory device includes a first main memory array 10, a first main page buffer array 20, a first redundancy memory array 15, a first redundancy page buffer array 25, a second main memory array 30, a second main page buffer array 40, a second redundancy memory array 35, and a second redundancy page buffer array 45.
The first main page buffer array 20 is configured to access data of the first main memory array 10. The first main page buffer array 20 performs a program operation of storing data in the first main memory array 10 and a read operation of reading data from the first main memory array 10.
The first redundancy memory array 15 is configured to replace columns including defective memory cells, among a plurality of columns forming the first main memory array 10, by the column as the unit.
The first redundancy page buffer array 25 is configured to access data of the first redundancy memory array 15. The first redundancy page buffer array 25 performs a program operation of storing data in the first redundancy memory array 15 and a read operation of reading data from the first redundancy memory array 15.
The second main page buffer array 40 is configured to access data of the second main memory array 30. The second main page buffer array 40 performs a program operation of storing data in the second main memory array 30 and a read operation of reading data from the second main memory array 30.
The second redundancy memory array 35 is configured to replace columns including defective memory cells, among a plurality of columns forming the second main memory array 30, by the column as the unit.
The second redundancy page buffer array 45 is configured to access data of the second redundancy memory array 35. The second redundancy page buffer array 45 performs a program operation of storing data in the second redundancy memory array 35 and a read operation of reading data from the second redundancy memory array 35.
When an inputted column address corresponds to a defective column among the columns forming the first main memory array 10, the first redundancy page buffer array 25 performs a read/program operation on a column of the columns within the first redundancy memory array 15, instead of the defective column within the first main memory array 10. Similarly, when the inputted column address corresponds to a defective column among the columns forming the second main memory array 30, the second redundancy page buffer array 45 performs a read/program operation on a column of the columns within the second redundancy memory array 35, instead of the defective column within the second main memory array 30.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the conventional memory device separately includes the first redundancy memory array 15 for replacing defective columns within the first main memory array 10 and the second redundancy memory array 35 for replacing defective columns within the second main memory array 30. Therefore, the defective column within the first main memory array 10 may not be replaced with a column of the second redundancy memory array 35, and the defective column within the second main memory array 30 may not be replaced with a column of the first redundancy memory array 15. Accordingly, when a large number of defective cells exist in any one of the first and second main memory arrays 10 and 30, for example, when such a large number of defective cells as not to be replaced with the first redundancy memory array 15 exist in the first main memory array 10, the entire memory device is to be discarded even though the second redundancy memory array 35 includes columns to replace defective columns.

Memory device with redundancy page buffer array


The present invention provides a display substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device. The display substrate comprises a base substrate, and gate lines, data lines, a gate driving circuit and a source driving circuit on the base substrate, the gate lines and the data lines define pixel units, the pixel unit comprises a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode, the data lines are connected to the source driving circuit, the display substrate further comprising gate line connection wires on the base substrate, the gate lines are connected to the gate driving circuit through the gate line connection wires, the gate driving circuit and the source driving circuit are located at edge positions on the base substrate in an extending direction of the data lines, and they are opposite to each other. The widths of the bezel in the extending direction of the gate lines are reduced.

As the development of the display technology, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are applied more and more widely. A liquid crystal display may comprise an array substrate and a color filter substrate which are provided oppositely to form a cell, and liquid crystal is provided between the array substrate and the color filter substrate. The array substrate is provided with a source driving circuit and a gate driving circuit thereon, both the source driving circuit and the gate driving circuit are located at edge positions of the array substrate, the source driving circuit is provided at an edge position in an extending direction of data lines and the gate driving circuit is provided at an edge position in an extending direction of gate lines. For example, in a case that the source driving circuit is provided at an upper edge of the array substrate, the gate driving circuit is provided at a left or right edge of the array substrate.
Since the gate driving circuit is provided at an edge position in an extending direction of gate lines, it is difficult for the liquid crystal display to realize narrow bezel in the extending direction of the gate lines.

Display substrate and manufacturing method thereof, and display device

HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A variation simulation system providing for facilitated circuit design with suppressed deterioration in performance otherwise caused by variations. A variation analysis unit 100 extracts statistical features of variations from a large number of samples beforehand. A model analysis unit 200 checks response of a circuit simulation output to parameter variations. A fitting execution unit 300 collates the information, obtained in this manner, to each other to determine the manner of variations of the parameters which will reproduce statistical features of the device samples.

Circuit simulation has a wide spread use in the design of circuits employing electronic devices, such as CMOS circuits. In a circuit simulation, characteristics of electronic devices, such as current-voltage characteristics, capacitance-voltage characteristics or the like, are described by equation (model equation, usually composed of plural equations). These equations include a set of constants, termed parameters, which may be modified. For carrying out the circuit simulation, it becomes necessary, first of all, to determine the values of these parameters so that the model equations will substantially accurately reproduce actual device characteristics. This operation is termed 'parameter extraction', and a set of so determined parameters, or a model of a specified device, corresponding to the set of parameters, is referred to as a 'device model' or simply as a 'model'. Meanwhile, the manner of representation of a device characteristic, specified by the model equations, is referred to as 'model basis' in distinction from the model of a specific device.
In electronic device characteristics, there are variations (or uncertainty) in characteristics ascribable to variations in fabrication. It is therefore necessary in circuit design that the circuit be made to operate as normally even if device characteristics are varied to a more or less extent.
In order to meet this requirement, it is customary, especially in large scale logic circuits, to deal with device variations as follows:
That is, a 'corner-model', having characteristics deviated to the maximum possible extent, is provided in addition to a typical device model. For example, it is supposed that there is a device having a driving capability varied to the highest value, that is, a device which, if used, would speed up the operation, and another device having a driving capability varied to the lowest value, that is, a device which, if used, would slow down the operation, and hence device models (high speed model and low speed model) are prepared for the respective devices.
By designing a circuit with allowance (margin) so that the circuit operates with use of any of these models, a circuit may be implemented which will operate stably despite variations in device characteristics.
The above-described method, employing a corner model, is a simple method capable of coping with variations rather easily. However, the following technique, which might allow more precise analysis of the effect the variations might have on a circuit has been disclosed in Patent Document 1 and in Non-Patent Document 1.
Initially, N devices having different characteristics due to variations, are provided, and measurements are made of these characteristics.
In Patent Document 1 and in Non-Patent Document 1, N devices are generated by device simulation which takes the variation phenomenon into account. Measurement is simulated by a computer.
The parameter extraction is then carried out for each of the devices to generate N device models.
Finally, circuit simulation is carried out, using each of the N models, in order to check how circuit characteristics are varied.
Among off-the-shelf circuit simulation programs, there are those in which a Monte Carlo function is added for taking variations into account. This is the function in which circuit characteristics are computed automatically and repeatedly as parameters contained in a device model are varied at random with a certain probability distribution.
If this function is used, it is possible, for example, to automatically carry out evaluation on how much the delay time in a circuit is varied in case the gate length of a MOS transistor, as one of its parameters, is varied with the standard deviation of ±10%.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2001-188816A
[Non-Patent Document 1]
B. J. Cheng et al., "Integrating 'atomistic', intrinsic para meter variations into compact model circuit analysis", 33rd Conference on European Solid-State Device Research (ESSDERC 2003), Extended Abstracts, Sep. 16, 2003, pp.437-440


A melt processing method for bulk or thick film fabrication of RE123 superconductor material includes the steps of using Nd in the RE123 to increase the recrystallization speed of the RE123, and using a heavy rare earth in the RE123 to establish the peritectic melting point of the RE123 somewhere below the melting point of silver. Within these requirements, the method essentially includes heating the RE123 above its peritectic melting point, and then cooling the resultant decomposed material to recrystallize the RE123. The heavy rare earths to be used for lowering the RE123 peritectic melting temperature include Lu, Yb, Tm or Er or mixtures thereof. The addition of RE211, silver and the use of a low oxygen partial pressure also contribute to a lowering of the melting point of the RE123. When using Nd to accelerate the processing time, the RE123 can include a first component of Nd.sub.1-z R.sub.z 123 and a second component of Nd.sub.1-y R.sub.y 211. For these components, R is one of the heavy rare earths, z is between 0 and approximately 0.9, and y is between 0 and approximately 0.9.

Any process for fabricating melt processed RE123 superconductor material which can be accomplished more rapidly than presently available methods would be beneficial. Further, because silver (Ag) is known to be an effective, chemically compatible cladding or substrate for REBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x where RE=Y or a rare earth element (RE123), any process for fabricating RE123 in combination with a silver substrate would also be beneficial. To accomplish both objectives with the same fabrication process would be doubly beneficial. Heretofore, however, no such process has been identified.
The fabrication of a high temperature RE123 superconductor material with a silver cladding has much appeal. Indeed, there are several applications for RE123 superconductor material wherein the use of a silver cladding or substrate for the RE123 would be beneficial. These applications include current transport devices, rf and microwave devices, input coils for superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDS), and magnetic levitation devices. For example, for the case of the most commonly used Y123, melt processed Y123 has significantly better critical current density and rf surface resistance than sintered (non-melt processed) Y123. Furthermore, since these applications impose different microstructural requirements on the resultant RE123, it is to be appreciated that superconductor performance in these applications will benefit when the resultant RE123 is useable in combination with a silver cladding or substrate. However, when using a melt processing method to fabricate RE123, a process wherein the 123 must be first melted and then cooled, the incorporation of a silver cladding or substrate is only possible by lowering the maximum processing temperature to below that of silver. Unfortunately, it is commonly known in the art that melt processing requires temperatures above the melting point of Ag. The literature even indicates that a heavy rare earth 123 such as Yb123 melts at 1190.degree. C. Silver is the only low cost metal chemically compatible with melt processed 123 (gold is also compatible, but is too expensive). This is why it is important to develop a RE123 melting process below the melting point of silver. During melt processing, the 123 material preferably needs to be on a substrate or in a tube because it has very low strength to keep its shape in the melted state.
To summarize the problems confronted, it is first to be appreciated that a melt process is necessary in order to obtain a high quality 123 superconducting material. The superconducting 123 material, however, needs substrate support during a melt process. It happens that the most compatible materials which can be used with a 123 superconducting material for this purpose include Gold (Au), Yttria stabilized Zirconium Oxide (ZrO.sub.2), and Silver (Ag). Of these, Silver has the lowest melting point. Gold and Zirconium Oxide have higher melting points, but they have other drawbacks. Simply stated, gold is very expensive. Zirconium Oxide, though less expensive than gold, has other disadvantages, such as: i) it is available in only small sizes, ii) if the 123 is cooled too slowly during the melt processing, the Zirconium Oxide substrate will adversely react with the 123 superconductor material, and iii) if the 123 is cooled too quickly (e.g. to avoid ii.) the resultant 123 has poorer superconducting qualities. Silver, on the other hand, is readily available in many shapes and sizes and can be incorporated for many different applications. To use Silver, however, it is necessary for the entire melt process to be accomplished at temperatures below the melting point of silver.
Assume for the moment, that the melt processing of RE123 superconductor is accomplished below the melting point of silver, The diverse nature of superconductor materials whose performance can be enhanced by using a silver cladding or substrate will, perhaps, be best appreciated by specifically considering the microstructural requirements for RE123 in some of the specific applications mentioned above. For applications involving the transport of current, a thermal gradient is imposed and a continuous fabrication process is used. The microstructure of the resultant RE123 must then contain a minimal number of grain boundaries and the grain boundaries should be of low angle. There must also be little or no residual Ba-Cu-O non-superconducting material present in general and at the grain boundaries in particular. On the other hand, for applications involving magnetic levitation or low surface resistance rf or microwave applications, large grains of 123 containing finely dispersed 211 phase particles are desired. Some non-superconducting phases at the grain boundaries and high angle grain boundaries do not significantly adversely affect the performance of the material for the magnetic levitation applications.
As implied above, it is well known in the pertinent art that to fabricate RE123 superconductor material, in bulk, it is necessary to melt process the 123 superconductor. This involves heating the material above its peritectic decomposition (melting) temperature and then slowly cooling the material to below that temperature. Above the peritectic decomposition (melting) point, the RE123 material decomposes into a liquid phase containing Ba-Cu and a solid phase containing a composition of RE.sub.2 BaCuO.sub.y (RE211). Typically, the cooling rate must be approximately 1.degree. C./hr in order for the liquid phase to fully combine with the 211 particles and form the 123 phase. This slow cooling rate yields very large grains with typical dimensions on the order of millimeters. If the cooling rate however, is increased to about 5.degree. C./hr, then the grain size is only on the order of tens of microns. Large grain samples of the 123 superconductor have useful levitation properties for applications such as flywheels and low friction bearings, whereas small grain samples with grain sizes of tens of microns do not. Further, some RE123 superconductors (e.g. Y123) if cooled too rapidly from above the melting point, will contain little or no RE123 after the cooling. Thus, there is a preference for using the slower cooling rate. The downside, of course, is that fabrication time is increased.
In light of the above it is an object of the present invention to provide a melt processing method for fabricating a high temperature RE123 superconductor which can be completely accomplished at temperatures below the melting point of silver. It is another object of the present invention to provide a melt processing method for fabricating a high temperature RE123 superconductor which can be relatively rapidly accomplished. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a melt processing method for fabricating a high temperature RE123 superconductor, in bulk. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a melt processing method for fabricating a high temperature RE123 superconductor which is relatively easy to employ and comparatively cost effective.

Compositions for melt processing high temperature superconductor


An above-ground secure shelter comprise multiple modular walls of trapezoidal shape allowing dimensional variation of structure size, supported on base beams placed and anchored into the ground in the pattern defined by the shape of polygon chosen for the floor, a door with locking mechanism remaining securely closed from inside during a storm event and preventing lock-out when shelter is not in use, a multitude of structural inserts and plates connectively placed between adjacent walls, and a roof affixed thereto, resulting in a cost-effective portable shelter in the shape of polygonal pyramid frustum for use during inclement weather and/or during armed assault alike.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The disclosure generally relates to the shelter and more specifically to the portable shelter for use in distressed situation during inclement weather and/or armed assault.
2. Description of Related Art
Shelters built as part of a house structure or placed in basement as in Bishop 2007—U.S. Pat. No. 7,237,362 B1. The problem with this approach is that occupants of such structure became trapped inside the destroyed house. The other problem is that incorporating shelter in an existing structure is costly and requires specialized service to do it. Yet another problem is that houses mostly affected by hurricanes do not have basements.
In other approach self-contained structures are build for underground placement as in Poole 1999—U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,866. The problem with such approach is digging a hole in the ground for placement of the structure where not every location permits this operation due to rocky base or high level of groundwater. In addition, a shelter buried for some time in the ground often become unworthy of relocation.
Yet another approach was to construct aboveground shelters from modular elements as in Horlander 2008—U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,305 B1. The problem with such approach is that modules are assembled with use of steel parts, which increase the cost, and while left exposed to elements over time weaken the security of structure. The other problem with aboveground modular shelters is that vertical walls of rectangular shapes, are affected by inclement elements similarly to house walls.
Another approach is to use conical shape apparatus made predominantly of steel as in Trochan publication US2013/0125478 A1. The problem with this approach is high cost of manufacturing, complicated machining, and protecting relatively small number of occupants.
Yet another approach is to use portable or personal shelter in the form of half-pipe, dome, or polyhedral prism made of sheet metal or plastic as in Arnold 2002—U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,278 B1. The problem with this approach is that it is either not strong enough to protect occupant from falling debris or is not comfortable to hide from the storm for prolonged period, and does not protect in the event of armed assault.
Therefore, it is apparent that there is a need for a shelter, which is cost-effective and easy to manufacture, store, transport, install, and relocate, and can efficiently protect multiple occupants during storm, hurricane or armed assault.


A method of generation, by a digital processing device, of a first high dynamic range digital image from second and third digital images of a same scene, including, for at least one point of the first image: determining a brightness index; comparing this index with at least one of first, second, third, and fourth decreasing thresholds stored in a memory; and determining the value of the point by taking into account the value of the index.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to high dynamic range imaging.
2. Description of the Related Art
A standard image sensor comprises an array of photodetector cells, providing signals representative of the illumination levels received by the different photodetectors. Such a sensor may acquire a digitized image of a scene, or digital image. Such a sensor can however only discriminate a finite number of levels of illumination received by each photodetector. It is thus not always possible to capture the entire illumination range or dynamic range available in a scene with a single level of photodetector exposure, especially when the scene has a high contrast.
To obtain a high dynamic range image, it has already been provided to successively acquire two images of a same scene with different levels of exposure of the sensor, and then to merge these images in a high dynamic range image, wherein the values of the image points or pixels corresponding to the darkest areas of the scene are based on the values of the corresponding pixels of the image acquired with the highest exposure level, and the values of the pixels corresponding to the brightest areas in the scene are based on the values of the corresponding pixels of the image acquired with the lowest exposure level.

Method and device for generating high dynamic range images