A computing system includes a main memory, an instruction cache and a processor. The processor includes memory interface means, predecoding means, interface means, a first arithmetic logic unit, a second arithmetic logic unit and steering means. The memory interface means is connected to the main memory and fetches instructions from the main memory. The predecoding means is connected to the memory interface means and predecodes the instructions to generate predecode bits. The predecode bits indicate whether and how the instructions may be bundled. The interface means is connected to the predecoding means and the instruction cache. The interface means stores the instructions and the predecode bits in the instruction cache and fetches the instructions from the instruction cache with the predecode bits. The steering means is connected to the interface means, the first arithmetic logic unit and the second arithmetic logic unit. The steering means steers each of the instructions to one of the first integer arithmetic logic unit and the second integer arithmetic logic unit for execution. The steering means utilizing the predecode bits to steer the instructions.

The present invention concerns predecoding and steering instructions executed in a superscalar processor.
Most modern computer systems include a central processing unit (CPU) and a main memory. The speed at which the CPU can decode and execute instructions and operands depends upon the rate at which the instructions and operands can be transferred from main memory to the CPU. In an attempt to reduce the time required for the CPU to obtain instructions and operands from main memory, many computer systems include a cache memory between the CPU and main memory.
A cache memory is a small, high-speed buffer memory which is used to hold temporarily those portions of the contents of main memory which it is believed will be used in the near future by the CPU. The main purpose of a cache memory is to shorten the time necessary to perform memory accesses, either for data or instruction fetch. The information located in cache memory may be accessed in much less time than information located in main memory. Thus, a CPU with a cache memory needs to spend far less time waiting for instructions and operands to be fetched and/or stored.
A cache memory is made up of many blocks of one or more words of data. Each block has associated with it an address tag that uniquely identifies which block of main memory it is a copy of. Each time the processor makes a memory reference, an address tag comparison is made to see if a copy of the requested data resides in the cache memory. If the desired memory block is not in the cache memory, the block is retrieved from the main memory, stored in the cache memory and supplied to the processor. A cache memory used to store instructions is generally referred to as an instruction cache. A program counter is used to determine which instructions are to be fetched for execution.
In some computer systems, parallel execution of instructions (called "bundling" of instructions) may be utilized to speed up computer operation. Processors which provide for parallel execution of instructions can be referred to as superscalar processors. Superscalar computers generally utilize more than one execution unit to provide for bundling of instructions. An execution unit is, for example an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) or a floating point unit (FPU).
Even with multiple execution units, there are still limitations to which instructions may be bundled. For example, some instruction may have conflicts with other instructions. The type of conflict can take various forms. A resource conflict occurs when two instructions both use the same, limited processor resource. This may occur, for example, when both instructions require use of the same execution unit. Alternately, data dependency may result in a conflict. That is, when one instruction produces a result to be used by a next instruction, the two instructions cannot be bundled. Also, a procedural dependency may result in a conflict. For example, an instruction which follows a branch instruction cannot be bundled with the branch instruction, since execution of the instruction depends on whether the branch is taken. In order to determine whether two or more given instructions can be bundled, it is generally necessary to first decode the instructions. This may be done, for example by an instruction decode unit.
Various methods have been advanced for minimizing the performance penalty for decoding and steering instructions to the proper execution unit. For example, compiler techniques may be used to assist the instruction decode unit to determine whether two or more instructions can be bundled. That is, during compile time, the compiler can encode one or more bits in the actual instruction operational code (op-code) to be utilized by the instruction decode/steering hardware. These bits can provide information to the decode hardware as to how the instruction may be bundled with other instructions. The predecode information, in effect, is employed as part of the instruction set architecture. However, the information needed by the decode hardware is processor dependent; therefore, such an encoding of bits can limit the flexibility of different processors to optimally execute op-code without a code recompile.
In one system, a dedicated predecoded bit is stored in the instruction cache which is used by decode hardware to steer instructions to either an integer arithmetic logic unit (ALU) or a floating point unit (FPU). See, for example, E. DeLano, W. Walker, J. Yetter, M. Forsyth, "A High Speed Superscalar PA-RISC Processor", IEEE, 1992, pp. 116-121.

Predecoding and steering mechanism for instructions in a superscalar processor


An auxiliary roof for a building is provided including a building having a perimeter and a roof. A plurality of stanchions includes a pair of rear stanchions and a pair of front stanchions. Top ends of the rear stanchions have an equal height which is greater than that of the top ends of the front stanchions. A frame includes a pair of side members extending downwardly from top ends of the rear stanchions to top ends of the front stanchions. Also included is plurality of slats each defined by a pair of long edges and a pair of short edges, wherein one of the long edges of each slat is coupled between the side members of the frame in spaced parallel relationship. The slats have a raised orientation wherein the same reside at an acute angle for directing air toward the building.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to roof structures and more particularly pertains to a new building cover system for collecting rain water and cooling a building.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of roof structures is known in the prior art. More specifically, roof structures heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art roof structures include U. S. Pat. No. 4,620,397; U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,785; U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,934; U.S. Pat. Des. 249,562; U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,098; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,146.
In these respects, the building cover system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of collecting water and cooling a building.


A method for determining the transmission time between remote terminal stations and a central terminal station in a point-to-multipoint bidirectional transmission network. The central station measures the time interval between a reference time for sending of information signals by the central station and reception by the central station of a location signal sent by a remote station after a time-delay starting from a reference time for reception of information signals by the remote station so that the location signal is received by the central station in a predetermined location window not assigned to reception of information signals by the central station. For a given remote station the time-delay is variable from an initial value such that the location signal is not necessarily received in the window and the location signal sending by the remote station is then repeated until the location signal is received by the central station in the window.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention concerns point-to-multipoint transmission networks linking a central station and a plurality of remote stations.
The present invention is more particularly concerned with networks of this kind which comprise between said central station and a concentration point a transmission medium which is time-shared between the various remote stations and between said concentration point and each remote station a respective transmission medium specific to each remote station and the lengths of which vary according to the location of the remote stations relative to the concentration point.
The present invention is applicable in particular to distribution networks used in the terminal part (close to the users) of a telecommunication network and particularly to distribution networks of this kind in which said transmission media are optical fibers and said concentration point is a passive optical coupler.
The present invention is more specifically concerned with the situation in which said time-sharing of the transmission medium utilizes the TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) technique with a transmission format structured in frames comprising different time slots assigned in a predetermined manner to respective different remote stations.
For transmission in an "upward" direction from the remote stations to the central station the problem arises of identifying the time for transmission by each of the various remote stations so that when the information transmitted reaches the shared transmission medium it is in the respective time slots assigned to the various remote stations.
2. Description of the prior art
A known way to solve this problem is to implement at each remote station a specific transmission time-delay in order to compensate for the different transmission times to the central station from the remote station in question and a reference remote station.
The transmission time between a remote station and the central station is usually determined by measuring at the central station the time which elapses between a reference time at which information signals are sent by said central station and the time at which said central station receives a location signal transmitted by said remote station with a time-delay relative to a reference time at which said remote station receives said information signals determined in such a way that the various location signals sent by the various remote stations are received in a given period known as the location window which is not assigned to receiving information signals.
This transmission time measurement technique is described in French patent application N.degree. 2 636 482, for example.
It has the drawback that it requires a relatively wide location window covering all location. signal intermediate positions between respective extreme positions representing the remote station nearest the central station and the remote station farthest from the central station.

Method for determining the transmission time between remote and central terminal stations in a point-to-multipoint bidirectional transmission network


A radioisotope-powered semiconductor battery comprises a substrate of a crystalline semiconductor material, the material having at least one degree of confinement, and a radioactive power source comprising at least one radioactive element. The power source is positioned relative to the substrate to allow for impingement of emitted particles on the substrate. The semiconductor material may be electronically, structurally or chemically confined. The radioactive element is preferably impregnated within or immediately adjacent the semiconductor material.

Because of the limited energy storage capacity of conventional electrochemical batteries, there have been various attempts at developing batteries powered by radioactive elements, due to the higher theoretical limits on the energy density from such radioactive elements or radioisotopes. The most common type of nuclear batteries are known as radiothermal generators (RTGs), which utilize the heat produced when the decay energy of the radioactive material is absorbed by the battery material to produce power. Such batteries are commonly used in navigation buoys, weather stations, various space based applications such as satellites, and also for nuclear powered pacemakers. For such applications, the most commonly used radioisotopes are strontium-90 and plutonium-238, although cesium-137 and curium-242 and curium-244 can also be used.
Also known are nuclear batteries which utilize an indirect conversion approach. In such indirect conversion devices, a substrate material impregnated with a radioisotope and a phosphor powder is sandwiched between two photovoltaic cells. The decay particles emitted by the radioisotope excite the phosphors, causing light to be emitted, which is then absorbed by the photovoltaic cells, generating electricity. The potential applications of these devices are limited by the relatively low conversion efficiencies and poor stability of the luminescent material, due to radiation damage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,420 to Anthony et al., describes a further type of nuclear battery, namely a deep diode atomic battery made from a bulk semiconductor crystal powered by gamma rays and x-ray emission from a radioactive source embedded in a central cavity in the interior of the semiconductor crystal. As the radioactive source of this device is stated to be preferably a high energy source, the energetic emission from the radioactive source can lead to radiation damage and heating of the bulk semiconductor crystal, with consequent lowered efficiency and shortened operating lifetime.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,621 to Little et al. discloses a further solid state nuclear battery, comprising a relatively high energy radiation source, such as promethium-147, and a bulk crystalline semiconductor which is characterized by defect generation in response to the radioisotope. The materials of the semiconductor are chosen such that the radiation damage is repaired by annealing in real time at the elevated operational temperature of the battery. This device has several shortcomings, due to the inherent inefficiency of the semiconductor used, which necessitates the use of a high energy radiation source. As noted above, such a source can produce severe lattice damage, requiring that the material be self-annealing, to achieve an acceptable carrier lifetime and output. As continuous annealing of the semiconductor is required, the useful life of such a battery is limited.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,141 to Jantz et al. discloses a further solid state nuclear battery, which utilizes a radioactive source associated with a p-n junction. In this device, the semiconductor material includes integrated circuitry formed therein. Because of this, physical separation of the nuclear battery from the integrated circuits is required to protect against the effects of thermal degradation and radiation damage, from both chronic radiation exposure and damage due to a single high-energy event, which is of particular concern with the high-energy sources described. Further, because of the physical separation of the battery from the electronic circuits, the potential for miniaturization and incorporation of this device into integrated circuit applications is limited.


Embodiments of the present invention include systems for calibrating an output circuit. A comparator is coupled to a calibration terminal and configured to determine whether the calibration terminal is in a first state coupled to a calibration resistor or in a second state. A calibration circuit is coupled to the calibration terminal and configured to generate a calibration value based in part on the presence or absence of the calibration resistor. An impedance selector is coupled to the calibration circuit, the comparator, and a default calibration value. The impedance selector is configured to select the default calibration value when the comparator indicates the calibration terminal is in the second state and to select the calibration value coupled from the calibration circuit when the comparator indicates the calibration terminal is in the first state.

Semiconductor devices such as memory devices may include one or more output pins and one or more output buffers to transmitting data to other devices in the system. To improve the transmission of data, the impedance of the transmitting device may be matched to the impedance of the transmission network and receiving device. Impedance matching may allow for higher frequency of data transmission and reduce distortion caused in part by reflections occurring at an interface having an impedance mismatch.
To reduce the effects of impedance mismatches, manufacturing control of the output drivers may be employed to select a precise impedance value to match a transmission network and receiving device. However, manufacturing control can achieve only limited accuracy in matching the impedance value of an output buffer. Accordingly, semiconductor devices may employ a calibration circuit to adjust the impedance of one or more output buffers after the buffers are physically fabricated.
Examples of memory devices including calibration circuits are described in U.S. Published Application Number 2007/0263459 entitled "Method and apparatus for output driver calibration," which publication is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. An example of a memory device 10 including an output driver calibration circuit 30 is shown in FIG. 1. The memory device 10 includes a plurality of physical connection terminals 12 for electrically connecting the memory device 10 to other devices within a memory or other system. Various ones of the pins 12 may couple to one or more busses, such as the address bus 14, data bus 16, control bus 18, or combinations thereof. During operation, a memory controller 13 may communicate with the memory device 10. Generally, the memory device 10 includes an array 20 of memory cells coupled to a row decoder 22 and column decoder 24. Responsive to address signals received from the memory controller 13, the row and column decoders 22, 24 may select the appropriate row and column of the memory array 20 for reading or writing as indicated by a command received from the memory controller 13. Data may then be written to or read from the selected memory cell. Data read from the selected memory cell is coupled to the data bus 16 through an output circuit 26 that includes a plurality of output drivers 28.
A calibration circuit 30 adjusts the impedance of one or more of the output drivers 28. The calibration circuit 30 is coupled to a calibration terminal 32 coupled to an external calibration resistor 34. The calibration resistor 34 may be selected responsive to a calibration command received from the memory controller 13, the calibration circuit 30 adjusts the impedance of one or more output drivers 28 based on the voltage at the calibration terminal 32, which is in turn determined by the calibration resistor 34.
An example of an implementation of calibration circuit 30 is shown in FIG. 2. The calibration circuit 30 includes a pull-up driver 202 and a pull-down driver 204. The pull-up driver 202 includes a p-channel variable impedance circuit 62 coupled to the calibration resistor 34 at the calibration terminal 32. The voltage at the calibration terminal is coupled to pull-up calibration logic 54. Responsive to a calibration command, the pull-up driver 202 is turned on, and the pull-up calibration logic may compare the voltage at the calibration terminal 32 with a reference voltage, Vref, and adjust the p-channel variable impedance circuit 62 to achieve a desired voltage at the calibration terminal 32. For example, if a power supply voltage 206 is VCCQ and the calibration resistor 34 is coupled to ground, the pull-up calibration logic 54 may adjust the p-channel variable impedance circuit 62 such that the voltage at the calibration terminal 32 is ½ VCCQ. Once the p-channel variable impedance circuit 62 of the pull-up driver 202 has been calibrated, the pull-up driver 202 may be coupled to the pull-down driver 204 as shown. A second p-channel variable impedance circuit 82 is adjusted in a similar manner to the p-channel variable impedance circuit 62. The pull-down calibration logic 88 compares a voltage at a node 64 to the reference voltage Vref and adjusts an impedance of an n-channel variable impedance circuit 84. In this manner, the voltage at the node 64 may also be adjusted to equal ½ VCCQ.
Based on the adjustments necessary to the p-channel variable impedance circuit 62 and the n-channel variable impedance circuit 84, the pull-up and pull-down calibration logic couple respective control signals 106 and 108 to the output circuit for use in configuring the output impedance of the output buffers.
Accordingly, by coupling a known calibration resistor 34 to the memory device 10, the impedance of output drivers may be adjusted to improve matching with a transmission network, other device coupled to the memory devices, or combinations thereof.

Systems and methods for detecting terminal state and setting output driver impedance


An apparatus for transporting charged particles. The apparatus includes a control unit and a transport device having a plurality of electrodes arranged around a transport channel, wherein the transport channel includes a bunch forming region configured to receive charged particles received by the transport device. The control unit is configured to control voltages applied to the electrodes to generate a transport potential in the transport channel, the transport potential having a plurality of potential wells which are configured to move so as to transport charged particles along the transport channel in one or more bunches. The control unit is further configured to control voltages applied to the electrodes: temporarily generate a gathering potential in the bunch forming region so that charged particles received by the transport device are gathered in the bunch forming region; and then generate the transport potential in the bunch forming region so that a selected potential well is formed in the bunch forming region with the selected potential well receiving a bunch of charged particles formed from the charged particles gathered in the bunch forming region by the gathering potential.

Many sources of charged particles, such as electrospray ion sources, produce a continuous stream of charged particles (continuous in time), rather than discrete bunches of charged particles. However, for many analysis devices configured to analyse charged particles, it is preferable for charged particles to be analysed in bunches, rather than as a continuous stream. An example of such an analysis device is a time of flight ("ToF") analyser.
Transport devices configured to transport charged particles along a transport channel in one or more bunches have therefore been developed.
An example of such a transport device is described in WO2012/150351 and US2014/0061457 A1. This transport device, which hereafter may be referred to as the "A-device", uses a non-uniform high-frequency electric field, the pseudopotential of which has a plurality of potential wells, each suitable for transporting a respective bunch of charged particles. A transport device that generates a potential having similar qualities, albeit by analogue rather than digital means, is also disclosed in US2009/278043 A1.
Another example of such a transport device is described in GB2391697B. This transport device, which may hereafter be referred to as a "T-Wave" device, ion guide or collision cell, produces a DC electric field that includes a plurality of potential wells, each suitable for transporting a respective bunch of charged particles. In the "T-Wave" device, RF waveforms are applied in antiphase to alternate ring-electrodes in a stacked ring system so as to generate a radial confinement field. A travelling DC potential is applied sequentially to electrodes to generate a DC barrier which urges the radially trapped ions along the device. Multiple DC barriers may be formed in order to separate the trapped ions into bunches.
Thus, in both the A-device and T-Wave device, a plurality of electrodes are controlled to generate a transport potential in a transport channel, the transport potential having a plurality of potential wells configured to transport charged particles along the transport channel in one or more bunches.
The present inventors have observed that during injection of charged particles into a charged particle transport device which incorporates travelling wells, it is desirable to be able to inject a wide mass range of charged particles and to selectively choose which wells charged particles are injected into. The desirability of a wide mass range is clear as this will improve the performance of an analytical method like mass spectrometry.
As described in more detail below, the present inventors have found that, in the case where charged particles with a wide range of masses enter an A-device as described in WO2012/150351, those charged particles with a lower mass have a tendency to be received by different potential wells compared with charged particles with a higher mass. As a result, the mass range of each bunch of charged particles contained by a respective potential well is limited or may not accurately represent the number of charged particles of each mass that were present in the initial collection of charged particles.
The present inventors have also noticed that, in the case where bunches are to be extracted from the transport device, for example by an extraction potential configured to extract a bunch of charged particles contained by a target potential well out of the transport device can cause bunches other than the target bunch to be distorted. This can lead to a total loss of ions, partial loss of ions, or an increased energy of ions, resulting lower duty cycle and lower sensitivity.
Such distorting effects can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, which have been obtained by simulation of a device described in detail below. These effects can reduce the accuracy and duty cycle of downstream analysis devices, such as ToF analysis devices (for which bunches of charged particles are often used). The present invention has been devised in light of the above considerations.

Transport device for transporting charged particles


A rope-tension system for a marine seismic cable comprising a series of sensor nodes connected between flexible cable sections connected to other sensor nodes and flexible sections by armored cable segments. The flexible sections, which are housed in flexible protective covers, have a pair of ropes as stress members. The two ropes are pivotably pinned at both ends to termination units at the opposite ends of the flexible sections. The two ropes extend through a ring positioned between the two termination units. The pivots at the rope ends form linkages with the ropes that allow the ropes to adjust their positions as the flexible section engages a curved surface during retrieval. The ring presents bearing surfaces with a large radius of curvature to the ropes to avoid sharp bending loads.

The invention relates generally to offshore seismic prospecting and more particularly to marine seismic cables having multiple sensors, such as hydrophones, geophones, and accelerometers, disposed along the lengths of the cables.
Marine seismic cables instrumented with hydrophones and other sensors are used in prospecting for oil and gas trapped under the sea floor. Ocean Bottom Cables (OBCs) are seismic cables that are laid on the sea floor by a deployment vessel. Hydrophones and other sensors in the OBCs are used to detect reflections of periodically emitted seismic waves off geologic structures under the sea floor. The reflected seismic waves detected by hydrophones and particle motion sensors in the OBCs are used to produce a map of the subsea formations. After deployment, OBCs have to be retrieved by the vessel and stored.
In retrieving the seismic cables, cable-handling systems pull the cable aboard the survey vessel. During this retrieval process, the cable is subjected to severe tension that creates high bending loads in rigid cable sections, such as at sensor housings, as they pass over curved surfaces of the cable-handling equipment. The high bending loads can damage the rigid sections or shorten the useful life of the cable.
Some seismic cables use hydrophones to detect variations in acoustic pressure and motion sensors, such as geophones and accelerometers, to detect particle motion caused by reflected seismic waves. The motion sensors are particularly sensitive to vibrations in the cable that can be transmitted along its stress members, which, in OBCs, are often metal cables. High-modulus fiber ropes are sometimes used as stress members to provide better acoustic isolation than conventional wire ropes.

Rope-tension system for a marine seismic cable


A head includes a substrate, an undercoat material, a read structure, and a write structure. The undercoat material at least partially provides electrical insulation between the read structure and the substrate. The read structure allows for reading magnetic fields from a recording medium. The write structure allows for providing particular magnetic fields to the recording medium to write data to the recording medium. The read structure is located at least partially between a portion of the undercoat material and a portion of the write structure. The head further includes at least one of (i) a heating element located at least partially in the undercoat material for providing heat and (ii) a pedestal for at least partially providing thermal conduction between the read structure and the substrate. Also, a thickness of the undercoat material may be set for improving flying height adjustment efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to magnetic heads, sliders, disk drives, and methods and, in specific embodiments, to a head comprising a substrate, a read structure for reading magnetic fields from a recording medium, an undercoat material for at least partially providing electrical insulation between the read structure and the substrate, and at least one of (i) a heating element located at least partially in the undercoat material for providing heat and (ii) a pedestal for at least partially providing thermal conduction between the read structure and the substrate.
2. Related Art
A major goal among many disk drive manufacturers is to continue to increase an amount of data that can be stored on a recording medium while still maintaining data integrity and disk drive reliability. Two ways that have been proposed for increasing a recording density in disk drives are: (i) lowering a flying height of a slider over a recording medium; and (ii) storing magnetization vertically within a recording medium, as in perpendicular recording, rather than storing magnetization longitudinally in the recording medium, as in longitudinal recording.
However, there have been problems with lowering a flying height of a slider in that damage may be caused due to contact between the slider and the recording medium. Also, there have been problems with perpendicular recording in that perpendicular disk drives are more sensitive to external stray magnetic fields than are longitudinal disk drives, and such external stray magnetic fields may lead to a loss of performance and even to irreversible disk drive failure in perpendicular disk drives.
A disk drive typically includes a slider and a recording medium. The slider typically includes a body section, a read structure, and a write structure. The read structure typically comprises a read element and two read shields, where the read element is located between the two read shields. The read element generally allows for reading data from the recording medium, and the two read shields generally allow for at least partially shielding the read element from stray magnetic fields. The write structure typically comprises a write pole, a write yoke, and a write return shield, where the write structure allows for writing data to the recording medium. The read structure and the write structure are generally located near a trailing edge of the slider. The slider is typically configured to fly on an air bearing that is generated by rotation of the recording medium.
Examples of disk drives are provided in the following references: (i) U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,191 entitled "Internal Heat Dissipater used to Reduce Slider and Write Pole Thermal Protrusion for Thin Film Recording Heads", the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein; (ii) U.S. Pat. No. 6,842,313 entitled "Floating Down Stream Perpendicular Write Head Shield", the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein; and (iii) U.S. Pat. No. 6,597,539 entitled "Suspension Assembly for Supporting a Read/Write Head over a Rotating Storage Disk with Dynamically Adjustable Fly Height", the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Increasing a magnetic storage density of a recording medium requires increasing a number of data bits per square inch on the recording medium. Placing a read structure and a write structure of a slider closer to a recording medium allows for increasing the magnetic storage density of the recording medium. This is because a magnetic field detected by a read element from a portion of the recording medium under the read element increases exponentially as the read element is moved closer to the recording medium. Moving the read element closer to the recording medium allows for compensating for lower flux levels provided from smaller areas on the recording medium where a given bit of data is recorded. Also, a strength of magnetic flux from the write structure to the recording medium and an accuracy of directing magnetic flux to a specific portion of the recording medium may be improved the closer the write structure is to the recording medium.
However, placing a slider closer to a recording medium may increase a probability that the slider will contact the recording medium when flying over the recording medium. Such contact between the slider and the recording medium may damage the slider and the recording medium. As a consequence, disk drive reliability may be adversely affected by contact between the slider and the recording medium due to low flying heights of the slider over the recording medium.
One proposal for increasing a magnetic storage density in a disk drive while limiting adverse consequences relating to disk drive reliability is to only position a slider close to a recording medium during read or write operations, and then to increase a distance between the slider and the recording medium during idle times when no read or write operations are being performed by the disk drive. This would allow for obtaining the benefits of lower flying heights during read and write operations to increase a recording density, while obtaining the benefits of higher flying heights during idle times to attempt to limit adverse consequences on disk drive reliability. However, there exists a need for flying height adjustment schemes that provide for greater efficiency and increased controllability.
With respect to perpendicular disk drives, experiments have demonstrated that perpendicular disk drives are sensitive to external stray magnetic fields that are generated by sources external to the disk drives. External stray magnetic fields may be generated by many external sources including, but not limited to, motors, magnets, electric currents, and the like. For example, external stray magnetic fields entering a particular disk drive may be caused by drive motors of adjacent disk drives that are in a same enclosure with the particular disk drive. Also, with disk drives placed in televisions, automobiles, computers, and the like, there are many potential sources of external stray magnetic fields, such as power supplies, motors, electric circuits, and the like.
In various experiments, a loss of performance has been observed in perpendicular disk drives when they are operated in the presence of external stray magnetic fields. Such a loss of performance was noticed even for relatively small external stray magnetic fields. For example, in various experiments, one order of bit error rate (BER) loss was observed in perpendicular disk drives when the disk drives were in the presence of external stray magnetic fields with strengths even as small as 10 Oersted (Oe). A possible explanation of the BER loss is an increase in asymmetry of a read element due to a resulting stray magnetic field in a vicinity of the read element.
Also, in various experiments, an irreversible disk drive failure has been observed if a perpendicular disk drive is operated in the presence of a large enough external stray magnetic field. For example, irreversible disk drive failures have been observed in perpendicular disk drives that are operated in the presence of external stray magnetic fields with strengths even as small as approximately 50 Oe. The irreversible failures of the disk drives have been associated with an erasure of servo data on recording media in the disk drives. Servo data on a recording medium permits the determination of the position of a head with respect to the recording medium, and if the servo data is erased, the head is not able to be positioned properly for read and write operations, which leads to an irreversible drive failure.
Based on the experiments that show a loss of performance and even a possible irreversible disk drive failure for relatively small external stray magnetic fields, it is important to try to determine a possible explanation for the increase in asymmetry of a read element and an erasure of data on a recording medium due to such relatively small external stray magnetic fields. It has been noted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,950 entitled "Transverse Biased Shields for Perpendicular Recording to Reduce Stray Field Sensitivity", the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, that read shields capture stray magnetic fields. In an analysis that has been performed, the read shields have been found to provide a large magnetic field when in the presence of an external stray magnetic field, which can explain the increase in asymmetry of a read element and the erasure of a recording medium.
Traditional read shields are manufactured with thicknesses that are designed to provide good domain structures such that the creation of bad magnetic domains in the read shields can be hopefully avoided. However, it has been determined that the geometries of traditional read shields cause the read shields to capture, focus, and greatly magnify external stray magnetic fields, which can lead to strong magnetic fields near a read element and a recording medium in a disk drive to possibly result in a loss of performance in the disk drive and an irreversible drive failure in the disk drive.
In light of the above-mentioned problems, there is a need for sliders that allow for improved flying height adjustment. There is also a need for sliders in disk drives that provide for reducing a magnification of external stray magnetic fields by read shields than with traditional sliders. Also, there is a need for sliders with features that allow for improved flying height adjustment while also providing for less magnification of external stray magnetic fields by read shields.

Magnetic head sliders for disk drives having a heating element and pedestal in thick undercoat layer


In some embodiments, a system includes a super-channel multiplexer (SCM) and an optical cross connect (OXC) switch. The SCM is configured to multiplex a set of optical signals into a super-channel optical signal with a wavelength band. The OXC switch is configured to be operatively coupled to the SCM and a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) degree. The OXC switch is configured to be located between the SCM and the ROADM degree and the OXC switch, the SCM, and the ROADM degree are configured to be included in a colorless, directionless, and contentionless (CDC) optical network. The OXC switch is configured to switch, based on the wavelength band, the super-channel optical signal to an output port from a set of output ports of the OXC switch. The OXC switch is configured to transmit the super-channel optical signal from the output port to the ROADM degree.

Some embodiments described herein relate generally to methods and apparatus for a colorless, directionless, and contentionless (CDC) optical network architecture. In particular, but not by way of limitation, some embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for a modular CDC optical network architecture optimized for super-channels and individual channels.
A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) node can provide flexibility and reconfigurability for an optical network. Such capabilities enable network operators to quickly and flexibly respond to network changes, such as establishing new optical paths or releasing existing optical paths. These ROADM capabilities enable some known modern optical networks to achieve colorlessness, directionlessness, and contentionlessness (CDC) and provide improved efficiency of the optical networks. Known solutions to build an optical network with CDC capabilities include a multi-cast switch (MCS)-based structure and an optical cross connect (OXC) switch-based structure. The MCS-based structure, however, typically does not scale and is not cost efficient when the ROADM node includes more than four directions. The OXC-based structure often uses very large OXC switches, which are not scalable and are potential single points of failure. In addition, an optical network using a known MCS-based structure or a known OXC-based structure may only implement 1:1 protection scheme, which typically has a slower restoration compared to 1+1 protection scheme.
Accordingly, a need exists for methods and apparatus to provide a scalable and highly capable optical network structure with CDC capabilities and 1+1 protection scheme.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for a colorless directionless and super-channel contentionless (CDSC) optical network architecture


A connector for joining the ends of a plurality of lift cords from a window covering assembly together. Each lift cord is individually secured to the assembled connector via its own securing system. A pull cord extends downwardly from the connector for use in raising or lowering the window covering.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector for window covering lift cords. More particularly, this invention relates to an equalizing connector that joins the ends of the lift cords and attaches a pull cord thereto.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
In a typical vertically retractable window covering assembly, a plurality of lift cords are attached at spaced locations to a bottom or foot rail of the covering with each lift cord extending upwardly into a headrail. In the headrail, the lift cords are routed longitudinally of the headrail through a cord lock mechanism that is typically located proximate one end of the headrail. The cords then extend downwardly, terminating in a tassel. To raise the window covering, a user pulls on either the downwardly extending portions of the lift cords or the tassel. If a user pulls one lift cord more than another, the window covering may rise unevenly, causing the foot rail to tilt.
To help ensure that the lift cords are pulled evenly when raising a window shade, cord equalizing connectors have been utilized. Ostensibly, a cord equalizing connector secures the downwardly extending portions of the lift cords together at a location at or above a location where a user will typically pull the lift cords to raise the window covering. Accordingly, the window covering is raised evenly when the lift cords are pulled via the connector. However, depending on how the lift cords are secured within the connector, it is conceivable one or more of the lift cords may eventually slip relative to the other lift cords, causing the window covering to rise unevenly. Slippage is especially likely if a user pulls only one of the plurality of lift cords that may exit the bottom of the connector, wherein the load placed on the single lift cord may be sufficient to overcome the mechanism used to secure the lift cord relative to the other lift cords within the connector.
Lift cord connectors have also been utilized wherein the plurality of lift cords terminate at and are secured within the connecter and a single pull cord is attached to and hangs downwardly from the connector. Advantageously, the load induced by pulling the single pull cord is transferred equally to all the lift cords thereby, minimizing the likelihood of lift cord slippage, and ensuring that the window covering rises evenly. Depending on the design of the lift cord connector, the connector may be (i) difficult to assemble, (ii) aesthetically undesirable, or (iii) prone to failure. Further, a common problem with many connectors resides in the fact that should a child's body part be captured between lift cords and the connector is not designed to release the lift cords in such an event, bodily harm or injury can result to the child.

Equalizing connector for window covering pull cords


A method is provided of following a communication transaction during which a communicating mobile station (12) is handed-over from one radio cell to another in a mobile radio system. The transaction is followed across the handover by monitoring signaling messages on the signaling paths in the mobile radio system to detect the occurrence of common parameters related to communication transactions subject to handover. By correlating these parameters it is possible to associate fragments of the same transaction that give rise to signaling messages on different signaling paths. Thus in the case of a GSM mobile radio system with monitoring of the A interfaces, the parts of a communication transaction split by a handover from one BSC (17A) to another (17Z), can be associated by correlating the RR3 Handover Command signaling units appearing on the signaling links (68,69) to the old and new BSCs (17A,17Z). This correlation can conveniently be done at a central station (42) to which the signalling path monitors (40A,40Z) send report messages when they detect handovers occurring. A similar correlation can also be done when monitoring the Abis interfaces.

In a cellular mobile radio system, the fixed network part of the system is organized as a plurality of radio cells. During a communication transaction, a mobile station which is initially in communication with one radio cell may change cells by means of a handover process that ensures the orderly transfer of the communication transaction between cells. Within the fixed network part, a handover may result in a change in signaling path handling the passing of signaling messages to and from the mobile station.
For a variety of reasons, a network operator may be interested in following a communication transaction; for example, the operator may wish to find out how many transactions involve handovers or to associate pieces of information separately occurring during a transaction (such as the identity code given at the start of a transaction with a subsequently-assigned temporary identity code).
Of course, as part of its normal operation, the fixed network infrastructure follows communication transactions across handovers. However, as a practical matter, making this process or resultant derived information directly available to the network operator would requires substantial modification to existing infrastructure software with the consequent need to re-qualify the software and associated systems.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a way of tracking communication transactions across handovers without requiring modification of the existing network infrastructure.
As will be more fully set out below, the present invention involves providing a monitoring method and apparatus that effects the desired following of transactions across handovers by monitoring signaling messages. Monitoring signaling messages is not new in itself and may be done using, for example, the Hewlett-Packard 37900D Signaling Test Set. However, as already noted, a handover may result in a change in signaling path carrying the signaling messages relevant to a transaction being followed; as a consequence, following a transaction across a handover requires substantially more than just monitoring messages on a single signaling path.

Handover following in a mobile radio system


A method and a pressing apparatus for pressing an armature shaft into an axial hole formed on an approximately cylindrical core, so as to protrude the shaft from the specified end face of the core at the specified protrusion dimension. A gage base is provided in which a shaft through hole of the same dimension as the specified protrusion dimension is formed. The core is placed on the gage base with the specified end face facing down. The shaft is first pressed into the axial hole to protrude it downward from a lower face of the shaft through hole. Next, the shaft is pushed back upward until a shaft push back portion reaches the gage base, thereby, protruding the shaft form the specified end face of the core at the specified protrusion dimension.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for protruding an armature shaft from the specified end face of a core specified dimension when pressing the armature shaft into an axial hole of an approximately cylindrical shaped core, which is one of the component members of the armature, and a pressing apparatus for the same.
2. Background Art
FIG. 5 shows a core 2 which is one of the component members of an armature which is a rotating portion for such a motor. The core 2 comprises a plurality of thin silicon steel plates (thickness: approximately 0.35 to 1.00 mm) laminated to form an approximately cylindrical shape and has a plurality of slot 2c formed around its peripheral surface. An axial hole into which an armature shaft 1 (hereafter referred to as the shaft 1) is pressed and mounted, is formed at a shaft center P of the core 2 and the openings of the axial hole are formed at upper and lower end faces of the core 2. Furthermore, a recess portion 2d is formed coaxially with the axial hole into a cubical shape at the desired depth at one end face 2b of the core 2.
The diameter of the shaft 1 is approximately equal to the bore of the axial hole and a plurality of grooves are formed in the axial direction on the peripheral surface of the shaft 1. Furthermore, because the length of the shaft 1 is longer than that of the core 2, both ends 1a and 1b of the shaft 1 protrude from the respective end faces of the core 2.
One end 1a of the shaft 1 protrudes out a distance from the opposite end face 2a of the core 2 not having the recess portion 2d at a dimensional tolerance X range of -0.1 mm<X<0 of the specified distance. Hereafter, the end face 2a will be referred to as a specified end face 2a. Because a connection body (not shown) for engaging with other rotating members (not shown) is molded on with resin at the end 1b of the shaft 1, protruding from the end face 2b into which the recess portion 2d is formed, a protrusion dimension of the shaft 1 from the end face 2b of the core 2, moreover, its dimensional tolerance are not specified in particular. Hereafter, the end face 2b will be referred to as the molded end face 2b.
The above-mentioned conventional method for pressing the shaft 1 into the axial hole of the core 2, is carried out by using a conventional pressing apparatus using operated by such means as hydraulic drive in the following way. The shaft 1 is inserted into the axial hole from the side of the molded end face 2b and a pressing portion of the pressing apparatus presses the shaft 1 into the axial hole while alternating repeated pressing and stopping motions and measuring the protrusion of the shaft 1 from the molded end face 2b until the specified protrusion dimension is reached. When the protrusion dimension of the shaft 1 from the molded end face 2b becomes equal to the specified dimension, a protrusion dimension of the shaft 1 from the specified end face 2a is deduced therefrom.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional method for press fitting the shaft, because the pressing and measuring motions are repeated alternately, the assembly operation is time consuming and inefficient and a mechanism and a controlling method of the pressing apparatus is complex. Furthermore, since the specified dimensional tolerance Y of the whole length of the shaft 1 pressed into the axial hole of the core 2 is in the range of -0.2 mm<Y<+0.2 mm, which is larger than the above-mentioned dimensional tolerance X concerning the protrusion of the shaft 1 from the specified face 2a, the use of the above-mentioned conventional pressing method make it difficult to confidently assume the protrusion dimension.

Method for pressing armature shaft into axial hole


A method includes analyzing a first document to identify a first set of one or more tags and responsive to identifying the first set of one or more tags: automatically producing a second document based in part on first set of one or more tags, where the second document includes one or more accessibility features that were not in the first document.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
People with disabilities use electronic documents (for example, pdfs, web pages, word processing documents, or spreadsheet documents) with the help of assistive technologies that identify the content of the electronic documents. Assistive technologies, as referred to herein, include any software and/or hardware that interprets information for presenting to a user. Examples of assistive technologies include, but are not limited to screen readers, text to speech software, digital book players, Braille displays, Braille embossers, and electronic note takers. Assistive technologies convey information using visual, audio, or touch stimuli. For example, assistive technology such as a screen reader may be configured to read out the contents of a web page that are normally displayed to a user when the web page is rendered by a web browsing application.
However, assistive technologies may not properly be able to identify the content within a document if the document is not designed for interpretation by assistive technologies. For example, a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) document includes elements such as a table that is formatted with tags <tr>, <td>, or <th>. Some screen readers are unable to distinguish these HTML tags that format the table from table values that are displayed when the HTML document is rendered by a web browsing application. As a result, screen readers read the tags out loud, as if the tags were part of the normal displayed textual content of the document, for a user with a visual disability. Screen readers are unable to determine a proper sequence in which the table values should be read to sensibly convey the content to a user, or unnecessarily read out layout information such as "table with two columns and one row" to a user.

Automated addition of accessiblity features to documents


An output transistor supplies a current based on a drive current to a load. An output voltage is divided by a feedback voltage, and an error amplifier outputs a voltage according to a difference in feedback voltage. Furthermore, the base drive circuit controls a drive current of the output transistor according to an output voltage of the error amplifier. The drive current flows into GND via only the drive current detecting resistor. The short-circuit overcurrent protecting circuit detects an overcurrent based on a terminal based voltage of the drive current detecting resistor, and detects an occurrence of a short circuit by observing a feedback voltage. According to the described arrangement, as the need of the short-circuit detection-use transistor to be biased by the drive current can be eliminated, variations in output voltage of the error amplifier can be suppressed, and improved transient response characteristics can be achieved. As a result, in a drive circuit for use in the DC stabilized power supply circuit provided with the short-circuit overcurrent protecting circuit, improved transient response characteristics can be achieved.

DC stabilization power supply circuits which permit a constant DC voltage to be always applied to a load irrespectively of variations in current consumption of a load or an input voltage of the load have been used in a variety of fields such as a power supply circuit for computers, etc.
As shown in FIG. 6, in a conventional DC stabilized power supply circuit 101, an output transistor 102 supplies a current in accordance with a drive current Id to a load 105. The output voltage V.sub.out between the output terminals is divided by a voltage dividing circuit 103, and a feedback voltage V.sub.adj is applied to an error amplifier 111.
For example, when an output voltage V.sub.out is to be lowered due to an increase in current consumption (load current) of the load 105, the error amplifier 111 compares the feedback voltage V.sub.adj with a constant reference voltage V.sub.ref to detect a difference. In this case, the error amplifier 111 increases an output voltage VA and instructs a base driving circuit 112 to increase a drive current Id. As a result, a corrector current of the output transistor 102, i.e., an output current I.sub.out of the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 increases to maintain the output voltage V.sub.out constant. On the other hand, for example, when an output voltage V.sub.out is to increase due to an increase in input voltage V.sub.IN, the error amplifier 111 lowers an output voltage VA to instruct the base driving circuit 112 to decrease the drive current Id. As a result, an output current I.sub.OUT of the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 decreases to maintain the output voltage V.sub.out constant. As a result, the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 can apply a constant voltage to the load 105 irrespectively of a change in input voltage V.sub.IN or a current consumption of the load 105.
The CD stabilized power supply circuit 101 having the described arrangement supplies a current in accordance with the load current to maintain the output voltage V.sub.out constant. Therefore, when the load current becomes too large, a damage on the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 may occur. Therefore, in order to protect the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 against a supply of an overcurrent, it is required to provide therein a circuit for limiting a maximum value of an output current. Even if the overcurrent protecting function is provided, in an event of a short circuit between the output terminals, the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 supplies a current as much as possible in order to increase the output voltage V.sub.out. This causes a problem of overheat between the output terminals which may cause a damage of the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 as well as peripheral equipments. Therefore, a short-circuit prevention function is inevitable for the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 to which a high output current is applied.
In the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101, a short-circuit overcurrent protecting section 113 is provided to achieve both of the described functions. For a low-loss DC stabilized power supply circuit 101, in the case of adopting the output transistor 102 and the control-use IC of two chips, the short-circuit overcurrent protecting section 113 detects an overcurrent and a short-circuit not based on the output current V.sub.out but based on the drive current Id.
Here, respective structures of the circuits 111 and 113 will be explained in detail. The base driving circuit 112 includes an NPN-type transistor Qill and a NPN-type transistor Q112 which are Darlington connected. The transistor Q111 is arranged such that the base is connected to the output of the error amplifier 111, and the collector is connected to the collector of the output transistor 102. Therefore, the transistor Q112 absorbs a drive current Id in an amount corresponding to an output voltage VA of the error amplifier 111.
The short-circuit overcurrent protecting section 113 includes an NPN-type transistor Q121 and a resistor R121 for detecting a short-circuit and an overcurrent. The base and the collector of the transistor Q121 are mutually connected and are connected to the emitter of the transistor Q112. The emitter of the transistor Q121 is connected to ground via the resistor R121. Between the base and the emitter of the transistor Q121, the resistor R122 is provided for biasing the transistor Q121.
In the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 having the described arrangement, without an applied load, the output transistor 102 supplies a current only to the voltage dividing circuit 103. In this state, the drive current Id of the output transistor 102 is extremely small (around several tens .mu.A). Therefore, in the short-circuit overcurrent protecting circuit 113, the transistor Q121 is not biased, and the drive current Id flows in the GND via the resistor R122. As a result, in the error amplifier 111, the output voltage VA1 without an applied load is given as around 1.0 V from the following formula (1): ##EQU1##
In the above formula (1), VBE (Q111) and VBE (Q112) are a voltage between the base and emitter of the transistor Q111 and a voltage between the base and the emitter of the transistor Q112 respectively, and the VBE is a voltage between the base and the emitter when both of the above voltages are the same.
On the other hand, when the current consumption of the load 105 (load current I.sub.OUT) rises, the base driving circuit 112 increases the drive current Id. As a result, the output transistor 102 supplies the load current I.sub.OUT to the load 105. In this state, the transistor Q121 is biased, and the drive current Id flows via the transistor Q112. As a result, the output voltage VA2 of the error amplifier 111 is given as around 2.6 V from the following formula: ##EQU2##
Here, the VR121 is a terminal based voltage of the resistor R121.
When the load current V.sub.out becomes large, the drive current Id increases, and this, in turn, increases the terminal based voltage VR121 of the resistor R121. The short-circuit overcurrent protecting circuit 121 of the short-circuit protecting section 113 observes the terminal based voltage VR121 to detect an overcurrent. When the voltage VR121 exceeds a predetermined value, the short-circuit overcurrent protecting circuit 121 lowers the output voltage VA of the error amplifier 111. As a result, the drive current Id is limited, and the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 can be protected against an overcurrent.
On the other hand, when short-circuiting the output terminal, the feedback voltage V.sub.adj is lowered, and the error amplifier 111 applies a high output voltage VA to the base of the transistor Q111. As a result, the emitter current of the transistor Q111 flows via the resistors R102, R122 and R121, and the terminal based voltage of the resistor R121 becomes higher than that in the conducting state of the transistor Q121. The short-circuit overcurrent protecting circuit 121 observes the terminal based voltage of the resistor R121 for detecting the short-circuit, and when the terminal based voltage exceeds the predetermined value, the short-circuit overcurrent protecting circuit 121 lowers the output voltage VA of the error amplifier 111. As a result, the drive current Id is limited, and the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 can be protected against the short-circuit.
However, the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 having the described arrangement has a drawback in that transient response of the output current is low. A delay in the transient response results from charging a phase compensation capacity C101 provided in the error amplifier 111 at a rise from no load to a heavy load.
Specifically, at a rise from no load to heavy load, one end of the phase compensation capacity C 101, i.e., the output voltage VA of a differential amplifier 111 greatly varies as shown by the formulae (1) and (2) by around 1.6 V from around 1.0 V to around 2.6 V. The other end of the phase compensation capacity C101 is substantially constant and is connected to the internal circuit of a differential amplifier A101. Therefore, at a rise from no load to a heavy load, it takes time to charge the phase compensation capacity C101. As a result, a delay in rise occurs before the base driving circuit 112 adjusts the drive current Id, and the voltage between the corrector and emitter of the output transistor 102 increases. As a result, for example, in the case where the output voltage V.sub.out is set to 3.3 V, the output voltage V.sub.out is lowered by around 0.5 V in a period of around 30 .mu.s.
As the load 105 of the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) may be adopted. However, for example, in the CPU for use in recent personal computers, in order to achieve a high speed operation, a clock frequency is increased. Additionally, with an increase in the clock frequency, the current consumption also increases. For example, in some updated CPUs, a maximum current consumption reaches around 10 A. In general, in the digital circuit such as CPU, etc., a current consumption rapidly varies in response to an operating state; however, with an increase in maximum current consumption or an increase in clock frequency, larger variations in current consumption occur more abruptly.
In order to meet the described load 105, in the recent DC stabilized power supply circuit 101, regulation transient response characteristics become the key factor. However, in such conventional DC stabilized power supply circuit 101, as a transient response is low, it is difficult to meet the described requirements.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 12974/1993 (Tokukaihei 5-121974) discloses a method of increasing a current to be supplied to a load of an operational amplifier according to a power consumption of the operational amplifier applied to a voltage follower circuit. Specifically, a resistor is provided between a power supply terminal and a power supply of the operational amplifier which constitutes a voltage follower circuit. Additionally, to an output of the operational amplifier, transistors for supplying currents in amounts according to the terminal based voltage of the resistor are provided in parallel. According to the described arrangement, due to variations in load voltage of the operational amplifier and variations in power consumption of the operational amplifier, the transistor increases a current to be supplied to the load. As a result, the voltage follower circuit permits a high speed response with respect to variations in load voltage.
However, the described arrangement is designed for the voltage follower circuit in which an output follows an input, and thus cannot be used for the purpose of amplifying an input unlike the error amplifier 111 as shown in FIG. 6. Additionally, even if the drive capacity of the error amplifier 111 is improved, the biased state of the transistor Q121 varies when rising from no load to a heavy load. Therefore, variations in output voltage VA increase, and such problem that a transient response is delayed has not yet been solved.
In order to solve the described problem, various methods have been proposed, for example, as follows: A method (a) wherein a resistance R101 between the base and the emitter of the output transistor 102 is lowered. According to the method (a), to the transistor Q121 of the short-circuit overcurrent protecting section 113, an invalid current is supplied via the resistor 101 from the input voltage V.sub.in, the transistor Q 121 is biased, and the output voltage VA of the error amplifier 111 increases by a voltage between the base and the emitter of the transistor Q121. As a result, variations in output voltage VA between no load and a heavy load can be suppressed.
However, according to the described method, although transient response characteristics improve, a new problem arises in that a current consumption of the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101 without an applied load increases. As a result, especially in the arrangement where an input voltage V.sub.in is applied using batteries like the portable equipments, etc., the batteries are quickly consumed, which results in a shorter operation time of the equipments.
Another method (b) has been proposed wherein a capacity of the phase compensation capacity C101 is reduced. As a result, in the phase compensation capacity C101, even if variations in the terminal based voltage occur, the charging time can be maintained short, thereby achieving improved transient response characteristics of the DC stabilized power supply circuit 101. However, when adopting the method (b), in the error amplifier 111, as a phase margin is reduced, for example, due to variations in ambient temperature, input, etc., the error amplifier 111 may oscillate.
A still another method (c) has been proposed, for example, by Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 122725/1986 (Tokukaisho 61-122725) in which a main adjustment and a fine adjustment are carried out. Specifically, a DC stabilized power supply circuit includes a floating power supply circuit having a first terminal and a second terminal, a first feedback circuit for controlling a potential of the second terminal based on a potential of the first terminal, i.e., an output terminal of the DC stabilized power supply circuit, and a second feedback circuit for controlling the terminal based voltage of the floating power supply circuit. According to the described arrangement, the floating power supply circuit mainly adjusts an output voltage of the DC stabilized power supply circuit by controlling the terminal based voltage. As a result, even when the output voltage varies in a wide range due to variations in load, a change in output voltage can be compensated. On the other hand, as the first feedback circuit controls a potential of the second terminal to apply a fine adjustment to an output voltage of the DC stabilized power supply circuit. As a result, even when a fine transient variation in output voltage occurs, changes in output voltage can be compensated. However, in the described arrangement, separate circuits are required for the main adjustment and fine adjustment, and thus the structure of the DC current stabilized power supply circuit becomes complicated.
As described, in any of the described conventional methods (a) thorough (c), although improved transient response characteristics can be achieved, as the described new problems arise, a complete solution to the above-mentioned problems cannot be achieved.

Output driving circuit for use in DC stabilized power supply circuit


A resonance detection system includes a vibration simulation mechanism and a vibration audio analysis device. The vibration simulation mechanism includes a mechanism body that accommodates a peripheral interface device, such as a notebook computer key input mechanical structure. The vibration simulation mechanism generates a vibration wave to the peripheral interface device generates a vibration audio signal in response to the vibration wave. The vibration simulation mechanism further includes a patch-type audio collector, such as a miniature auscultation radio patch, which is connected with the vibration audio analysis device. The patch-type audio collector is attached on the mechanism body containing the peripheral interface device. The vibration audio signal is collected by the patch-type audio collector. The vibration audio analysis device judges whether there is an abnormal resonance phenomenon in the vibration auto signal, which may be used for fabrication quality control of peripheral interface devices.

Nowadays, various kinds of consumer electronic information products or communication products on the market are becoming slimmer and slimmer. Moreover, these products have various audio and visual functions to meet people's consumption and entertainment needs.
However, in the production process of various slim-type electronic products, many mechanical components inside the electronic products usually generate a lot of unexplained noise signals because of the interlaced interference caused by the design configuration or the mutual operation. The noise signals may deteriorate the production quality. Especially, due to the vibration of active components, passive components generate the abnormal phenomenon of unknown resonance audio signals. Therefore, it is important to avoid the abnormal phenomenon.
For example, the trends of designing notebook computers are toward slimmer and slimmer. Consequently, the installation positions of the internal components in the notebook computer are gradually close to each other or contacted with each other. For example, a notebook computer is equipped with a peripheral interface device (e.g., a key mechanical structure) for the user to perform the key input operation. Moreover, the notebook computer usually has a built-in audio device for sound playback. The audio device is an active component with plural speaker units. During the operation of the audio device, these speaker units are driven to convert various normal audio signals (e.g., music) into a vibration wave in a vibrating manner. Consequently, the generated sound can be heard by human ears.
Due to the limitation of the internal space, the installation position of the audio device is usually close to the key mechanical structure. Moreover, the key mechanical structure is a passive component. Consequently, the vibration wave generated by the speaker units (e.g., a specified-frequency vibration wave generated by a certain piece of certain music) may directly influence various mechanical structures under the key mechanical structure (e.g., the scissors-type connecting structure under the key) in the vibrating manner. In case that the assembling process or the design quality of the electronic product is abnormal, the electronic product readily generates unexplained high-frequency resonance audio signals. This abnormal phenomenon is easily sensed by the human ears.
For overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional technologies, there is a need of providing a resonance detection system for quickly detecting the unexplained high-frequency resonance audio signals in the fabricating process of various slim-type electronic products and smoothly eliminating the unexplained high-frequency resonance audio signals.

Resonance detection system for peripheral interface device


A method for panoramic image completion is disclosed. The method includes: acquiring a panoramic image; obtaining a projected image by mapping pixels of the panoramic image onto a polar coordinate system, wherein a long side component of the pixel coordinate of the pixels is corresponding to the polar angle of the polar coordinate system and a short side component of the pixel coordinate of the pixels is corresponding to a radial coordinate of the polar coordinate system; acquiring an incomplete region of the projected image, and obtaining a completed image by completing the incomplete region; and obtaining a completed panoramic image by inverse mapping the pixels of the completed image according to the polar coordinate system. Furthermore, a device for panoramic image completion is also disclosed. The above method and device for panoramic image completion take account of the perspective curvature of the panoramic image, to improve the degree of restoration.

A panoramic image is any wide-angle view or representation of a physical space, whether in drawing, painting, photography, film/video, or a three-dimensional model. The panoramic image can be a volume panoramic image or a 360-degree panoramic image. A panoramic image can be created by using a panoramic camera. For example, a graduation photo in volume panoramic view can be taken by the panoramic camera.
If a blurred phenomenon or pixel loss occurs in a region of a panoramic image, the panoramic image needs to be completed. For example, when fixing a scanned old panoramic photo, it is necessary to complete the blurred region on the old photo.
Conventionally, the method for normal image completion is used to complete a panoramic image. In the method, the completion is based on the values of the pixels in a region adjacent to the blurred or pixel loss region. However, because a sphere lens is usually used for wide-angle in creating a panoramic image, the completed panoramic image will appear serious distortion and stretching when using the conventional method to complete the panoramic image, which results in low degree of restoration of the panoramic image.

Method, device and computer-readable storage medium for panoramic image completion

Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited


An electrical connector configured to interconnect first and second electrical components. The connector includes a connector housing that is coupled to the first electrical component. The connector housing has a mating face that extends substantially in an axial direction and includes a slot opening. The connector also includes a connector contact that extends through the connector housing and the slot opening. The connector contact has a base portion located a depth within the connector housing and a curved portion formed along and protruding through the slot opening and beyond the mating face. The connector contact is configured to pivot about the base portion when a mating contact of the second electrical component is moved alongside the mating face in the axial direction and engages the curved portion. The curved portion is movable within and along the slot opening in the axial direction.

The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connectors and more particularly, to electrical connectors configured to engage mating contacts that are inserted in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to a mating face of the connector.
With some known electronic devices, such as portable computers, peripheral devices may be connected to the electronic device using a plug that is configured to mate with the electronic device. For example, the plug may be inserted into a side slot or cavity that is grooved or keyed to mate with the plug. The mating contacts within the slot are configured to engage mating contacts on the plug when the plug is in a fully engaged position within the slot. However, in order to ensure that the slot contacts and the plug contacts properly engage, the slot contacts and the plug contacts are positioned in a predetermined arrangement. For example, the slot contacts and the plug slots may be arranged in rows and/or columns. However, when the slot contacts or the plug contacts are in a predetermined arrangement, the slot contacts may only be used with plugs that have a predetermined arrangement of plug contacts and vice-versa.
Furthermore, in some known electrical connectors, the plug contacts are contact pads that project outwardly from a wall of the plug body. When the plug is inserted into the cavity the contact pads face a direction that is orthogonal to the insertion direction of the plug. As such, sides of the contact pads may stub or incorrectly hit the slot contacts or other parts within the slot thereby damaging or limiting the lifetime of the contact pads.
Thus, there is also a need for electrical connectors having plug contacts that may engage different arrangements of slot contacts. In addition, there is a need for electrical connectors that effectively mate the contact pads to the plug contacts while reducing the damage and/or wear of the contact pads as compared to the known electrical connectors.


A toothbrush includes a head having a bristle carrying surface formed from a thin resilient flexible dome shaped membrane. An air space is located between the base of the head and the membrane so that the membrane is capable of flexing to alter its original shape during use of the toothbrush and then recover to the original shape randomly during use. In a further practice of the invention the head and/or handle have elastomeric portions at least partially surrounding an open area. These portions are readily deflectable under pressure during use to improve handling of the toothbrush and orientation of the cleaning elements. Alternatively the toothbrush includes a longitudinal hinge collinear with the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush head so as to separate the head into a pair of side by side longitudinal sections, each of which has outwardly extending cleaning elements. The hinge is made of a resilient spring-like material to urge the sections to return to their original position after the hinge has been opened as a result of the cleaning elements contacting the teeth.

The present invention is directed to a manually held and operated toothbrush or to a powered toothbrush which includes a handle and a head. Cleaning elements are mounted to the head such as tufts of bristles. When toothpaste is applied to the cleaning elements the user inserts the head into the mouth and brushes the teeth in a known manner.
The head of a conventional toothbrush usually has a flat or slightly altered surface to which cleaning elements are attached. Usually the cleaning elements are strands of plastic material(s) formed into tufts or other groupings. The strand groupings are attached to the head either before or after forming the toothbrush handle.
Various attempts have been made for providing flexibility to the manner in which the bristles are attached. Various approaches have also been taken wherein the bristle carrying surface of the head is not flat. U.S. Pat. No. 1,688,581, for example, discloses a toothbrush having a bristle carrying member which is ordinarily bowed inwardly into the hollow head. The bristle carrying member can be bowed outwardly by manipulating a wire mounted in the toothbrush.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,722 discloses a toothbrush with a resilient flexible bristle support which spans spaced parallel handle extensions. Different embodiments of the toothbrush include having the support bowed inwardly or bowed outwardly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,560 relates to an orthodontic toothbrush which includes various rows of bristles including centrally located longitudinally arranged sets of bristles mounted on a flexible member over an air pocket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,354 discloses a toothbrush of rocker formation wherein base sections are joined together by hinges. The toothbrush also includes a hollow space below the base sections.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,133 discloses a toothbrush having a closed system of passageways for a non-compressible medium such as a compressed gas which flows below the bristle carrying base members.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,870 discloses a toothbrush head with flexibly mounted bristles by utilizing a flexibly resilient lattice network so that the bristles deflect during brushing to conform to various arcuate surfaces of the teeth.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,003,243 issued May 28, 1935 to Campbell et al. discloses blocks containing groups of bristles that are mounted on a flexible wire attached to a rigid toothbrush head (page 1, column 2, lines 45-55). The flexibility of this mounting wire helps the bristles to conform to the shape of teeth being cleaned.
Blakeman U.S. Pat. No. 2,706,825 issued Apr. 26, 1955 discloses a demountable bristle holder for a toothbrush which flexes up and down relative to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush body. This flexible member changes position. This plus the pressure of the brush against teeth and movement of the brush permits the brush to contact the teeth at various degrees of conformation (column 2, lines 15-18).
Peters U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,526 issued Jun. 4, 1985 has a flexible section in the handle which permits the head portion to move relative to the handle portion of the toothbrush in one plane. This patent suggests that the flexibility avoids damaging delicate tooth material and gum tissue (column 1, line 42-44). Similar structures for imparting flexibility to the head of a toothbrush and thereby reduce wear on tooth and gum are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,645.
Other approaches to flexible mounting of toothbrush cleaning elements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,355,546 and 5,839,149. In these patents, the head of the toothbrush is placed under the biting surface of the tooth in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the tooth. The head of the brush when so oriented has short bristles in the middle of the head which are pushed against the biting surface which causes longer outer bristles to rotate into engagement with the side of the teeth and the gum line.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,690 issued Nov. 23, 1999 to Heuler discloses a toothbrush with linkages between handle and head that facilitate deflection of the head so that the free bristle ends retain parallel alignment with respect to the handle during use.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,189 issued Dec. 21, 1999 discloses a flexible section of a toothbrush between handle and head to absorb part of the force applied by the user of a toothbrush. An elastic shock absorbing means is inserted in this section to bias the head into its inoperative position.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,817 discloses a toothbrush head with a central longitudinal axis that underlies the middle of a resilient member containing bristles. The central axis limits deformation of the middle of the resilient member. The balance of the head on either side of the central axis is sloped to allow greater movement of the flexible member, thereby causing outer bristles to splay outward. The outward spraying is believed to improve crevice intrusion of the bristles (column 2, lines 40-46).
European Patent Publication 0 454 625 A1 dated Oct. 30, 1991 discloses a cam in the handle of a tooth-brush that can be used to change the angular orientation of the head relative to the handle.
Other attempts made in the prior art to provide some form of movability of cleaning elements are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,466 and WO 90/01281 which disclose a toothbrush wherein both the handle and head are longitudinally hinged so as to provide displaceable bristles which are straddled about a row of teeth.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,616,484 discloses a toothbrush which is hinged along the length of the handle so that two spaced head sections can be disposed back to back with respect to each other. U.S. Pat. No. 1,616,484 discloses a hinged toothbrush that would provide for brushing a tooth from three different directions. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,528,782 and 5,269,083 disclose the bristles as being mounted in a rocking manner. U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,354 discloses the utilization of a hollow space to provide for a hinging action. U.S. Pat. No. 1,924,152 discloses a toothbrush having rows of rubber bristles. U.S. Pat. No. 301,644 discloses a toothbrush having rows of bristles mounted in rubber tongues.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 421,843 illustrates a toothbrush wherein the bristle carrying surfaces appears to be non-planar.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,452 discloses an elastic base toothbrush wherein a bristle carrying plate is mounted over rubber tubes.
A number of patents disclose some tooth and/or gum massage devices having non-planar surfaces. For example, British Patent No. 524135 relates to a gum massaging device having an air filled hollow rubber head to provide an air cushion for the gum massaging members. U.S. Pat. No. 1,058,273 discloses a massaging device having an interior air space. U.S. Pat. No. 2,148,483 discloses a tooth and gum massager and exerciser which includes a void filled with air. U.S. Pat. No. 2,176,309 also discloses a gum massager having air pockets.
Hairbrushes are also disclosed in various patents having dome shaped outer surfaces. Examples of these patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,739,419, 4,500,939 and 5,581,840. Similarly U.S. Pat. No. Des. 892,299 shows a toilet brush with a convex shaped bristle carrying surface.


A needle assembly for the sterile and physical protection of a needle cannula and a method for making the needle cannula is described. A removable sealing tube is integrally attached to one end of a holder which fixedly retains the needle cannula. A removable needle protector is integrally attached to the other end of the holder. The sealing tube, holder and protector define a unitary piece which encases the needle cannula. To make the needle assembly, an insert assembly including an annular die, the needle cannula and an outer cannula is positioned in a forming cavity. The forming cavity is then filled with molten plastic which upon cooling forms the unitary piece. The forward and rearward ends of the unitary piece are then sealed.

Within the medical supplies industry, there has been a long felt need to provide an inexpensive needle assembly consisting of a sterile hypodermic needle cannula retained in a holder and enclosed in a needle protector to physically protect the needle cannula during handling. Also the holder and protection alone or in combination with other portions of the needle assembly should completely enclose the needle cannula to maintain the sterility of the needle cannula during handling.
In general, these needle assemblies should allow easy removal of the needle protector before use of the needle cannula. Also, the holder for the needle cannula should allow the user to establish a fluidly communicating connection between the needle cannula and a medical device such as a syringe.
In addition to the general requirements, users of needle cannula such as doctors and other medical personnel look for particular characteristics, such as a definitive way to determine the integrity of the sterile seal provided by the needle assembly immediately prior to removal of the protector for use, and a clean neat appearance both before and after removal of the protector. Further, due to the large number of needle cannulas employed by medical businesses, a needle assembly needs to be able to be inexpensively produced.
One general type of needle protector assembly, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,523,530, 4,435,177 and 4,657,535, consists of a needle cannula having a cylindrical base or holder for retaining the needle and a hollow tubular protector which encloses an exposed portion of the needle cannula. The exposed portion extends from the holder up to and including the pointed tip. The holder and protector, however, are separately molded pieces and require an assembly step to form the needle assembly. After assembly of the separately molded pieces, the protector is bonded in a fluid-tight manner to the holder as known in the art, such as by either a heat sealing process or an adhesive. A drawback of this type of needle assembly is that the two separate molding operations and assembly step increase the cost of the needle assembly. A second drawback is that as the size of the needle cannula becomes smaller it requires greater effort and therefore more expense to establish a sealing bond between the protector and holder. Also because the bond is beneath the overlapping segment of the protector, it is difficult for medical personnel to inspect the bond prior to removal of the protector to insure the sterile seal has been maintained during handling. Finally the rearward end of the holder is open and therefore to sterilely seal the needle cannula, the holder must be bonded to a medical device or the entire needle assembly must be packaged in an additional enclosure.
A second general type of needle cover assembly, an embodiment of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,811, includes an inner sleeve which is inserted over the pointed forward end of the needle cannula. An outer sleeve retains the rearward end of the needle, extends around the inner sleeve and ends in an open end forward of the pointed end of the needle. A plug is then employed to seal the open end. This type of needle assembly also suffers the drawback of requiring three separate pieces to be molded and assembled for the needle cover to function properly. The assembly step adds expense to the manufacture of this needle cover assembly. This device also has a holder having an open rearward end and therefore requires a separate enclosure to sterilely seal the needle cannula.
Thus there is a need for a needle assembly which physically protects and preserves the sterility of the needle cannula during handling and which eliminates the separate molding operations of the component parts and an assembly of the same.
There is a further need for a needle assembly which completely encloses the needle cannula thus eliminating a separate enclosure to supply sterile protection.
There is also a need for a needle assembly which allows the user to easily determine that the sterile integrity of the needle cannula has been preserved until it becomes necessary to remove the protector.
There is an additional need for a method of manufacturing a needle assembly in which the needle cannula holder and protector are formed as a unitary piece which completely encloses the needle cannula in a single step operation. Such a method would reduce the cost of manufacturing the needle assembly and eliminate the problems associated with bonding a holder to a separate protector.