A medicine delivery mechanism or fibrin injection mechanism for use in combination with an anastomosing and stapling attachment for an electromechanical device driver comprises a dispensing chamber with an elongated cylindrical cross section (although other shapes can be used) which is formed in the staple housing of the attachment in lieu of a staple port or staple ports, and which has a mouth forming a channel lined at its innermost edge perimeter with inward facing prongs or teeth. The dispensing chamber contains a sac filled with fibrin. A delivery or plunger driver travels within the dispensing chamber to press a sac of fibrin against the inward facing prongs, tearing the sac and releasing the fibrin to push the fibrin through the channel to the treatment site.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fluid delivery mechanism for use with anastomosing, stapling, and resecting surgical tools, and more specifically to a fibrin injection mechanism by which such tools may deliver fibrin to the stapling and cutting site of a resected colon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Upon identification of cancerous or other anomalous tissue in the gastrointestinal tract, surgical intervention is often prescribed. The field of cancer surgery, and more specifically, the surgical procedure by which a section of the gastrointestinal tract which includes cancerous or anomalous tissue is resected, includes a number of uniquely designed instruments. In combination with a description of the present instrumentation and their functions, a description of the state of the art in this surgical procedure shall also be provided.
The first question which must be answered when determining how to treat gastrointestinal cancer relates to the specific location of the cancerous tissue. This is very important insofar as the instruments which are provided in the present art have limitations relating to how far they may be inserted into the gastrointestinal tract. If the cancerous tissue is too far up the colon, for example, then the standard instrumentation provided is unusable, thus requiring special accommodations. These accommodations generally increase the risk of contamination of the surrounding tissues with bowel contents, increase the length of the surgery and the corresponding need for anesthesia, and eliminate the benefits of precise anastomosing and stapling which comes from utilizing a mechanized device.
More specifically, in the event that the cancerous tissue is located at a position in the colon which is accessible by the present instrumentation, the patient""s abdomen is initially opened to expose the bowel. The surgeon then utilizes a linear cutter and stapling device which cuts the tube of the colon on either side of the cancerous tissue, thereby creating two stapled ends of the bowel (a distal end which is directed toward the anus, and the proximal end which is closest to the small intestine). This is done in order to temporarily minimize contamination.
More particularly, referring to FIG. 1, the bowel is placed between the scissoring elements 1, 2 at the tip of the linear stapling instrument 5. By squeezing the trigger 3 in the handle 4 of the device, the surgeon causes the scissoring elements 1, 2 to come together. A second trigger (or a secondary action of the same trigger) is then actuated to drive a series of staples 6 through the clamped end of the colon, thereby closing and transecting the ends.
The surgeon then partially opens the proximal end and inserts the removable anvil portion of an anastomosing and stapling instrument into the exposed proximal end. This step, as well as those of the remainder of the surgical procedure, are related to the functioning of this surgical instrument. More particularly, and with respect to FIG. 2, the surgeon begins by taking the instrument 7 and manually turning the dial 8 at the base of the handle 9 which causes the anvil head 10 at the opposite end to advance forward. The surgeon continues to turn the dial 8 until the anvil head 10 advances to its most extreme extended position. This manual turning requires nearly thirty full rotations. Once fully extended, the anvil head of the instrument is decoupled therefrom and is inserted into the partial opening of the proximal end such that the coupling post extends outwardly therethrough. This partial opening of the proximal end is then sutured closed. The extending shaft 11 of the anastomosing and stapling instrument 7 is then inserted and advanced into the lower colon, transanally, until the coupling stem 12 thereof extends through the stapled distal end. The surgeon then joins the coupling ends of the anvil and shaft together and begins to manually rotate the dial in the handle again, this time bringing the anvil head closer to the end 13 of the shaft.
Once the anvil head and shaft are brought close together, after the surgeon has manually rotated the dial another thirty times, a grip-style trigger 14 in the handle is manually actuated. This actuation causes a circular blade 15 to advance axially out from the tip of the shaft, and into contact with the opposing face 16 of the anvil 10. The blade cuts through the stapled-closed ends of the proximal and distal ends of the colon, thereby also cutting a new pair of ends of the proximal and distal portions of the colon. The tissue which has been severed is held in an interior volume at the end of the shaft.
In lock step with the cutting, the freshly opened ends are joined together by a series of staples 17 which are advanced through holes in the perimeter of the tip of the shaft (being pressed against and closed by the opposing face of the anvil). The coupled shaft and anvil are then withdrawn from the patient.
As with many such devices of the prior art, all of the above devices are considered fully disposable, and are, in fact, thrown away after a single use. They are complicated devices, having multiple moving parts, requiring substantial structural integrity and, therefore, expense in manufacturing. The fact that they are used only once, and no part can be used again render the use of such devices expensive and wasteful of resources.
In addition to this failure, as can be readily observed from the preceding descriptions, the prior art devices suffer from numerous other limitations which would be desirable to overcome. These include the requirement that the surgeon manually actuate a number of different functions (including those associated with the dial and trigger of the anastomosing and stapling instrument and the multiple triggers of the cutting and stapling instrument).
Another failure is that the prior art devices provide no means to allow the delivery of fluid to the site of the freshly cut tissue. Medicine or other substances which accelerate the healing process, if delivered to the site simultaneous with or subsequent to the stapling and cutting process, could speed healing of the tissue or perform other medical functions. One such substance is fibrin, which is the principal protein component of connective tissue, and serves as the fundamental element of the tissue-mending process, specifically the process of scar formation at the joining of two previously separate tissues. Therefore, the ability to inject such a substances at the site of the freshly stapled and cut tissue would provide an advantage over the prior art devices, which make no provision for such delivery.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a medicine delivery mechanism which can effect such medicine delivery at the stapling and cutting site of targeted tissue.
It is also a principal object of the present invention to provide such a medicine delivery mechanism in a form integral with an instrument for cutting, anastomosing, and stapling, which reduces the waste of resources by permitting the reuse of portions thereof.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a medicine delivery mechanism which reduces the requirements for the surgeon to manually actuate different components and mechanisms.
Other objects of the present invention shall be recognized in accordance with the description thereof provided hereinbelow, and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments in conjunction with the remaining Figures.
The preceding objects of the invention are provided by a medicine delivery mechanism which is integral with an anastomosing and stapling attachment which has been coupled to an electromechanical driver assembly.
Such an electromechanical driver assembly is shown in FIG. 3 and has a handle 150 and a flexible drive shaft 155. The handle 150 has a pistol grip-styled design, having one or more, and preferably two, finger triggers 160 which are independently coupled to at least one, and preferably two separate motors 165 which each turn separate flexible drive shafts 170 (described more fully, hereinbelow). The motors 165 are each dual direction motors, and are coupled to a manual drive switch 172 to the top of the handle, by which the user can selectively alter the turning direction of each motor. This dual direction capacity may be most simply achieved by selecting motors which turn in a direction corresponding to the direction of current, and actuation of the drive switches alters the direction of the current accordingly. In this example, the power source 175 supplying the motors must be a direct current source, such as a battery pack (and most desirably, a rechargeable battery pack). In the event that the device should be useable with an alternating current, either a transformer can be included, or a more sophisticated intermediate gearing assembly may be provided. In conjunction with the present description, the embodiments of the present invention which will be described utilize a rechargeable battery pack providing a direct current.
In addition to the motor components, the handle further includes several other features, including a remote status indicator 180, a shaft steering means 185, and an on/off switch (not shown). First, the remote status indicator may comprise an LCD (or similar read out device) by which the user may gain knowledge of the position of components (for example whether a clamping element is in the proper position prior to the driving of the staples). Second, the handle also includes a manually actuateable steering means, for example, a joystick or track ball, for directing the movement of the flexible shaft (by means of guidewires implanted in the shaft portion described more fully hereinbelow). Finally, the handle may include an additional electrical power supply and an on/off switch for selectively supplying electrical power to the attachments.
More particularly, with respect to the flexible shaft, the shaft comprises a tubular sheath 195, preferably formed of a simple elastomeric material which is tissue compatible and which is sterilizable (i.e., is sufficiently rugged to withstand an autoclave). Various lengths of this shaft may be provided. The flexible shaft and the handle portions can be separable. If separable, the interface between the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the handle should include a coupling means for the drive components.
Specifically regarding the drive components of the shaft, within the elastomeric sheath are a pair of smaller fixed tubes 215 which each contain a flexible drive shaft 220 which is capable of rotating within the tube. The flexible drive shaft, itself, translates a torque from the motor in the handle to the distal end of the shaft, but is flexible enough to be bent, angled, curved, etc. as the surgeon deems necessary to xe2x80x9csnakexe2x80x9d through the colon of the patient. In order for the distal end of the drive shaft to couple with an attachment, such as the anastomosing and stapling attachment discussed herein, however, the distal tips of the drive shafts must have a conformation which permits the continued translation of torque. For example, the distal tips 200 of the drive shafts may be hexagonal, thereby fitting into a hexagonal recess in the coupling interface of the attachment. Appropriate gearing mechanisms may be provided at the distal end of the shaft, or in the interfacing portion of the attachment, to ensure that the appropriate torque is provided to the attachment.
As suggested above, in conjunction with the manually actuateable steering means mounted to the handle, the sheath further includes at least two guidewires 205 which are flexible, but are coupled to the inner surface of the sheath near the distal end thereof. The guidewires may be axially translated relative to one another by actuation of the steering means, which action causes the sheath to bend and curve accordingly.
Also as suggested above, in conjunction with the LCD indicator of the handle, the shaft further contains an electrical lead 210 for coupling to the attachments. This electrical lead channels a signal from the attachment to the handle for indicating the status of the attachment (for example, whether the anvil portion is in close proximity to the SBR portion, so that the surgeon knows it is safe to staple). Similarly, a second electrical lead may be provided to supply power to separate aspects of the attachment if so required.
As stated above, the present invention is designed to be integral with an anastomosing and stapling attachment for the electromechanical device driver. Such an anastomosing and stapling attachment comprises an anvil portion, and a staple, blade and reservoir portion (SBR portion), which includes a pair of turning drive shafts which are coupleable to the drive components of the shaft element described above, and a corresponding pair of advancing and retracting nuts mounted to the turning drive shafts, but which are prevented from rotating and therefore linearly advance and retract along the shafts when they turn.
The anvil portion is bullet shaped, having a blunt nosed top portion, a flat cutting support surface on the bottom, and a freely rotating coupling post extending axially from the bottom surface. This coupling post is designed to be selectively coupleable and removable from the corresponding nut mounted to one of the turning drive shafts.
The SBR portion is cylindrical in shape, forming a housing which has a hollow interior. It is this hollow interior which forms the reservoir. On the axially outward facing surface of the cylindrical wall of the housing are a series of staple ports, through which the staples of the device are discharged. A series of staple drivers are mounted within the cylindrical walls, beneath the staple ports, for driving the staples therethrough. More accurately, the staple drivers are a series of protuberances on the outer edge of a single cylindrical component which seats in the wall of the SBR portion. The staples, prior to being discharged, are mounted in the holes; and they are advanced through the holes by the forward motion of the staple driver and the protuberances thereof.
The blade is similarly cylindrical, and seats in the inside of the housing, against the inner surface of the wall thereof. Both the blade and the staple driver are mounted to the second nut, which is, in turn, mounted to the other turning drive shaft. As the tuning drive shaft rotates, the nut (which is constrained against rotating) advances along the shaft, thus linearly advancing the blade and staple driver. The blade and the staple driver are, therefore, selectively advanceable axially outward from the housing, in accordance with actuation of the appropriate trigger on the handle.
In order to accelerate the healing process, the attachment is fitted with the present invention, i.e., a mechanism for delivering medicine or a healing substance such as fibrin at the cutting and stapling site, immediately after the cutting and stapling action described above. This mechanism can take on any of several embodiments, two of which are described hereinbelow as examples. In general terms, the present invention comprises a dispensing chamber containing a fluid, a channel communicating between a treatment site and the dispensing chamber, and a delivery or plunger driver traveling within the dispensing chamber with a force greater than the force needed to push the fluid through the channel.
In the preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a dispensing chamber with an elongated cylindrical cross section (although other shapes can be used) which is formed in the staple housing of the attachment in lieu of a staple port or staple ports. That is, the staple housing contains staple ports as well as a plurality of such dispensing chambers, with all such dispensing chambers having identical parts and identical functions as described herein. The mouth of the dispensing chamber forms a channel lined at its innermost edge perimeter with inward facing prongs or teeth. The dispensing chamber contains a sac filled with fibrin. A delivery or plunger driver travels within the dispensing chamber. The delivery or plunger driver protrudes from the innermost end of the dispensing chamber, similar to the way each staple protrudes from its staple port in the staple housing.
When the turning drive shaft of the attachment (which is connected to the electromechanical driver to drive the staple driver(s) and blade driver) is activated (via the trigger on the electromechanical driver handle), the staple driver moves forward to push a plurality of staples through corresponding staple ports in the staple housing and against the anvil of the attachment to pass through and staple together the target tissue. At the same time, the staple driver moves forward to push each delivery or plunger driver through its corresponding dispensing chamber. As each delivery or plunger driver moves forward through the dispensing chambers, it presses the sac of fibrin against the prongs. As the sac presses against the inward facing prongs of the channel, it tears, releasing the fibrin out through the channel and onto the newly stapled tissue. Meanwhile, the blade driver has moved forward, pushing the blade through the newly stapled tissue and cutting away the excess. The attachment is removed, and the healing process begins, accelerated by the presence of the fibrin at the cutting and stapling site.
In an alternate embodiment, the channel does not have inward facing prongs. Instead, the channel is clear. However, in lieu of a sac of fibrin and a separate delivery or plunger driver, the dispensing chamber is loaded with a cannula having a sharp point. The sharp end of the cannula is pointed toward the stapling surface (that is, when pushed out the dispensing chamber, it will puncture the tissue and eventually be stopped by the flat cutting surface of the anvil). Immediately inside the sharp end of the cannula, the inner perimeter of the cannula is lined with inward facing prongs, similar to the inward facing prongs of the preferred embodiment. Inside the cannula sits a sac of fibrin. Behind the sac of fibrin is located a delivery or plunger driver. This delivery or plunger driver is attached to the walls of the cannula, but is set to break away from the walls after the tip of the cannula has reached the anvil. That is, when the turning drive shaft of the attachment is activated, the staple driver moves forward to push a plurality of staples through corresponding staple ports in the staple housing and against the anvil of the attachment to pass through and staple together the target tissue. At the same time, the staple driver moves forward to push each delivery or plunger driver. The delivery or plunger driver first pushes the cannula out the dispensing chamber and through the tissue, against the anvil. Once the tip of the cannula has reached the anvil, the delivery or plunger driver continues to be pushed forward. This motion breaks the delivery or plunger driver away from the walls of the cannula, and thereafter the driver can continue to move forward through the cannula itself. As each delivery or plunger driver moves forward through its cannula, it presses the sac of fibrin against the prongs. As the sac presses against the inward facing prongs of the cannula, it tears, releasing the fibrin out through the cannula and onto the opposingside of the newly stapled tissue. Meanwhile, the blade driver has moved forward, pushing the blade through the newly stapled tissue and cutting away the excess. The attachment is removed, and the healing process begins, accelerated by the presence of the fibrin at the cutting and stapling site.
Still another embodiment can involve a compressible connection between the delivery driver and the cannula, instead of a break-away portion as described immediately above. For example, springs can be used to connect the delivery driver to the cannula. This would maintain rigidity of the cannula-driver assembly during the initial travel of the cannula to the anvil, as well as permit the delivery driver to continue its forward motion to press against the sac. That is, once the cannula tip has reached the anvil and stopped, the delivery driver will continue to be pushed forward as the springs compress, allowing the delivery driver to press against the sac. The remainder of the operation of the device would be as described above. A unique aspect of this embodiment is that the assembly could be re-used. Instead of the connection between the delivery driver and the cannula being destroyed, the springs would return to their original state after operation of the device, and the assembly could be sterilized and prepared for another application.
It should be noted that various embodiments can be used in conjunction with one another, so as to reach both sides of the treatment site during the same procedure. For example, the embodiment not involving the cannula can reach the proximal side of the treatment site, whereas the embodiment involving the cannula can reach the distal side of the treatment site.
In practice, this attachment is utilized once the section of the colon which is to be removed has been resected (but prior to the linear clamping and stapling step is complete), in the following manner. The surgeon begins by coupling the anastomosing and stapling attachment to the electromechanical driver and advancing the anvil portion to its fullest extent. The anvil head is then removed and inserted into the exposed proximal end. This proximal end is then stapled closed (with the coupling post protruding from the stapled proximal end). The surgeon then advances the shaft and the SBR portion of the attachment up the colon until it extends through the stapled distal end of the colon. The surgeon then couples the anvil to the advancing and retracting nut of the corresponding drive shaft. Subsequent triggering of the motor in the handle causes the anvil to retract toward the SBR portion. When the anvil portion and the SBR portion have come close enough to drive the blade and staple driver, subsequent actuation of the other trigger on the handle causes the corresponding other turning drive shaft to advance the blade and staple driver toward the flat cutting support surface of the anvil portion. The blade cuts through the stapled-closed ends of the colon, leaving the tissue which has been severed in the interior reservoir. Simultaneous with the cutting, the freshly opened ends are joined together by the series of staples which are advanced through holes in the perimeter edge of the SBR (being pressed against and closed by the opposing face of the anvil). Simultaneous with the stapling, the staple drivers push the delivery or plunger drivers forward in the dispensing chambers. The drivers push the sacs against the inward facing prongs, which breaks the sacs and releases the fibrin. The fibrin is then pushed out the channel to the cutting and stapling site. The attachment and the flexible shaft are then withdrawn from the patient.
It should be noted that inasmuch as the present invention can be used for applications and in conjunction with devices not related to an anastomosing and stapling attachment, or even colon resecting tools, but rather can be used for applications involving and in conjunction with other surgical devices, the present invention can be used alone, or with a blade, or with a stapler, or with other devices or combinations of devices to deliver medicine or other healing substances to a treatment site.

Fluid delivery mechanism for use with anastomosing, stapling, and resecting instruments


After the image data transmitted via a line is received and is then stored in a predetermined zone a of a RAM. The resolution of the image data along the line is converted to the resolution of the recording means in the main-scanning direction after the image data is decoded. The converted data is then stored in a predetermined zone b of the RAM. Subsequently, the image data is read by a predetermined length (eight pixels) to reverse the arrangement of the image data in the horizontal and vertical directions while converting the resolution of the image data to the resolution of the recording means in the sub-scanning direction. The resulting data is then stored in a predetermined zone c of the RAM.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data conversion apparatus and a recording apparatus that perform horizontal-to-vertical conversion on the arrangement of image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some conventional recording apparatuses employ an ink jet recording method in which ink is ejected for image formation. In this recording method, a recording head having a plurality of nozzles with a predetermined width along which a recording medium is fed is used. For carrying out the recording operation, this recording head, in general, performs scanning perpendicularly to the arrangement of the nozzles (hereinafter referred to as "the main-scanning direction), while a recording medium is fed perpendicularly to the main-scanning direction (hereinafter referred to as "the sub-scanning direction).
The resolution of the image data received by a facsimile machine having a built-in recording apparatus of the above type from other types of facsimile machines is determined to be 8 pel/mm in the main-scanning direction and 7.7 line/mm in the sub-scanning direction in compliance with, for example, the G3 fine mode. The arrangement of received image data is sometimes required to be converted prior to printing, depending on the arrangement of recording elements of the recording head (such converting processing will hereinafter be referred to as "the horizontal-to-vertical conversion" or simply referred to as "H-V conversion). Distortion would occur to the H-V converted image data output from the recording apparatus if no additional processing is executed, since the resolution of the recording apparatus usually differs from the resolution of facsimile images. For avoiding this problem, prior to the H-V conversion the resolution of the received image data in the main-scanning and sub-scanning directions is converted to the resolution which would be obtained after H-V conversion is performed.
The above-described resolution conversion and H-V conversion are performed in the following procedure. The image data in the main-scanning direction is converted in a resolution converting section built into a facsimile machine. The resulting image data is then stored in a zone of a storage medium, such as a RAM or the like. On the other hand, for enhancing the resolution of the image data in the sub-scanning direction, the data is copied line by line in another storage zone to create additional image data (data copying by a unit of line will hereinafter be referred to as "line copying" which will be described in greater detail below). Thereafter, H-V conversion is executed on the image data whose resolution is converted both in the main-scanning and sub-scanning directions.
However, the conventional facsimile machine of the above type encounters the following problems. The above-described resolution conversion and H-V conversion lengthen the time required for receiving the image data and outputting it from the recording apparatus, which decreases the total throughput of the facsimile machine. Also, memory having a large capacity is required for performing resolution conversion, which increase the size of the apparatus and costs.

Data conversion apparatus and image recording apparatus


Disclosed is a technique for processing interruption of an operation that transfers data between a source and a target. An indication that a reverse restore operation has been interrupted is received. It is determined whether designation of at least one of an original source and an original target has been reversed. The settings of one or more relation indicators are also determined. Processing to be performed is identified based on the determinations of whether designations have been reversed and based on the settings of the one or more relation indicators.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to recovery of a reverse restore operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computing systems often include one or more host computers ("hosts") for processing data and running application programs, direct access storage devices (DASDs) for storing data, and a storage controller for controlling the transfer of data between the hosts and the DASD. Storage controllers, also referred to as control units or storage directors, manage access to a storage space comprised of numerous hard disk drives connected in a loop architecture, otherwise referred to as a Direct Access Storage Device (DASD). Hosts may communicate Input/Output (I/O) requests to the storage space through the storage controller.
In many systems, data on one storage device, such as a DASD, may be copied to the same or another storage device so that access to data volumes can be provided from two different devices. A point-in-time copy involves physically copying all the data from source volumes to target volumes so that the target volume has a copy of the data as of a point-in-time. A point-in-time copy can also be made by logically making a copy of the data and then only copying data over when necessary, in effect deferring the physical copying. This logical copy operation is performed to minimize the time during which the target and source volumes are inaccessible.
A number of direct access storage device (DASD) subsystems are capable of performing "instant virtual copy" operations, also referred to as "fast replicate functions." Instant virtual copy operations work by modifying metadata such as relationship tables or pointers to treat a source data object as both the original and copy. In response to a host's copy request, the storage subsystem immediately reports creation of the copy without having made any physical copy of the data. Only a "virtual" copy has been created, and the absence of an additional physical copy is completely unknown to the host.
Later, when the storage system receives updates to the original or copy, the updates are stored separately and cross-referenced to the updated data object only. At this point, the original and copy data objects begin to diverge. The initial benefit is that the instant virtual copy occurs almost instantaneously, completing much faster than a normal physical copy operation. This frees the host and storage subsystem to perform other tasks. The host or storage subsystem may even proceed to create an actual, physical copy of the original data object during background processing, or at another time.
One such instant virtual copy operation is known as a FlashCopy® operation. A FlashCopy® operation involves establishing a logical point-in-time relationship between source and target volumes on the same or different devices. The FlashCopy® operation guarantees that until a track in a FlashCopy® relationship has been hardened to its location on the target disk, the track resides on the source disk. A relationship table is used to maintain information on all existing FlashCopy® relationships in the subsystem. During the establish phase of a FlashCopy® relationship, one entry is recorded in the source and target relationship tables for the source and target that participate in the FlashCopy® being established. Each added entry maintains all the required information concerning the FlashCopy® relationship. Both entries for the relationship are removed from the relationship tables when all FlashCopy® tracks from the source extent have been physically copied to the target extents or when a withdraw command is received. In certain cases, even though all tracks have been copied from the source extent to the target extent, the relationship persists.
The target relationship table further includes a bitmap that identifies which tracks involved in the FlashCopy® relationship have not yet been copied over and are thus protected tracks. Each track in the target device is represented by one bit in the bitmap. The target bit is set when the corresponding track is established as a target track of a FlashCopy® relationship. The target bit is reset when the corresponding track has been copied from the source location and destaged to the target device due to writes on the source or the target device, or a background copy task.
In the prior art, as part of the establishment of the logical point-in-time relationship during the FlashCopy® operation, all tracks in the source cache that are included in the FlashCopy® relationship must be destaged to the physical source volume, e.g., source DASD, and all tracks in the target cache included in the FlashCopy® must be discarded. Further details of the FlashCopy® operations are described in the copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/347,344, filed on Jul. 2, 1999, entitled "Method, System, and Program for Maintaining Electronic Data as of a Point-in-Time", which patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Once the logical relationship is established, hosts may then have immediate access to data on the source and target volumes, and the data may be copied as part of a background operation. A read to a track that is a target in a FlashCopy® relationship and not in cache triggers a stage intercept, which causes the source track corresponding to the requested target track to be staged to the target cache when the source track has not yet been copied over and before access is provided to the track from the target cache. This ensures that the target has the copy from the source that existed at the point-in-time of the FlashCopy® operation. Further, any destages to tracks on the source device that have not been copied over triggers a destage intercept, which causes the tracks on the source device to be copied to the target device.
Instant virtual copy techniques have been developed, at least in part, to quickly create a duplicate copy of data without interrupting or slowing foreground processes. Instant virtual copy techniques, such as a FlashCopy® operation, provide a point-in-time copy tool. Instant virtual copy techniques may be used for a variety of applications, including, for example, data backup, data migration, data mining, testing, etc. For example, an instant virtual copy technique may be used for the creation of a physical "backup" copy of the source data, to aid in disaster recovery.
Although the instant virtual copy techniques are useful for copying large amounts of data, conventional instant virtual copy techniques may be improved.

Method, system, and program for recovery of a reverse restore operation

International Business Machines Corporation


An aging environment measurement apparatus measures aging environment data within an oak barrel and transmits the measured aging environment data within the oak barrel to a server, and the aging environment measurement apparatus is mounted in a bung of the oak barrel.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring an aging environment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring an environment of a winery, which is a wine brewery.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In general, a winery environment measurement apparatus measures an environment state such as ambient temperature and humidity of an aging apparatus using a sensor that is installed within a winery.
Further, when measuring internal temperature of the aging apparatus, a winery manager removes a bung of the aging apparatus, inserts a temperature sensor into the bung hole, measures the internal temperature of the aging apparatus, and writes the measured temperature by hand. Therefore, it is inconvenient to measure an internal temperature of the aging apparatus, and an error may occur due to erroneous writing of the winery manager.
In order to improve such a problem, a method of automatically measuring the internal temperature of the aging apparatus by attaching a sensor to each aging apparatus was suggested.
First aging of wine is performed on a large scale in a large aging apparatus that is made of various materials such as cement, stainless, and wood. Such a first aging apparatus is fixed to the winery and is managed by the winery, and thus by attaching a sensor to the first aging apparatus, environment information can be continuously collected.
Secondary aging of the wine is performed in an oak barrel that is smaller than the aging apparatus for first aging of wine. First aging is performed for a few weeks, but secondary aging is generally performed over a long term for 18 months or more. Oak barrels, which are a secondary aging apparatus, are necessary in a larger number than that containers of the first aging apparatus and are a consumption apparatus, not an apparatus that is fixed to the winery, and a large amount of secondary aging apparatuses are newly bought every year and are installed in the winery.
When producing high-quality wine, in order to maintain high quality, an oak barrel is generally used only once time, and even in a winery that produces intermediate grade wine, an oak barrel is used only for a limited number of times. Due to such a reason, because a method of attaching a sensor to the oak barrel has low economic efficiency, a method of attaching a sensor to the secondary aging apparatus is not appropriate.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Apparatus and method for measuring aging environment

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate controlling interference in a heterogeneous wireless communication environment. A Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) transmission from an interfering base station can be punctured based upon a puncturing pattern as a function of a cell identifier (ID) and a transmit time. Puncturing can be effectuated by applying power control. Thus, a punctured symbol or subframe can have a reduced transmit power or a transmit power set to zero. Further, the puncturing pattern can be defined on a subframe basis or on a symbol basis.

I. Field
The following description relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to mitigating interference for a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) by puncturing a transmission of an interfering cell in a wireless communication system.
II. Background
Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as, for example, voice, data, and so on. Typical wireless communication systems can be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, . . . ). Examples of such multiple-access systems can include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and the like. Additionally, the systems can conform to specifications such as third generation partnership project (3GPP), 3GPP long term evolution (LTE), ultra mobile broadband (UMB), multi-carrier wireless specifications such as evolution data optimized (EV-DO), one or more revisions thereof, etc.
Generally, wireless multiple-access communication systems can simultaneously support communication for multiple user equipments (UEs). Each UE can communicate with one or more base stations via transmissions on forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from base stations to UEs, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from UEs to base stations. Further, communications between UEs and base stations can be established via single-input single-output (SISO) systems, multiple-input single-output (MISO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, and so forth. In addition, UEs can communicate with other UEs (and/or base stations with other base stations) in peer-to-peer wireless network configurations.
Heterogeneous wireless communication systems (e.g., heterogeneous networks (HetNets), . . . ) commonly can include various types of base stations, each of which can be associated with differing cell sizes. For instance, macro cell base stations typically leverage antenna(s) installed on masts, rooftops, other existing structures, or the like. Further, macro cell base stations oftentimes have power outputs on the order of tens of watts, and can provide coverage for large areas. The femto cell base station is another class of base station that has recently emerged. Femto cell base stations are commonly designed for residential or small business environments, and can provide wireless coverage to UEs using a wireless technology (e.g., 3GPP Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or Long Term Evolution (LTE), 1× Evolution-Data Optimized (1×EV-DO), . . . ) to communicate with the UEs and an existing broadband Internet connection (e.g., digital subscriber line (DSL), cable, . . . ) for backhaul. A femto cell base station can also be referred to as a Home Evolved Node B (HeNB), a Home Node B (HNB), a femto cell, or the like. Examples of other types of base stations include pico cell base stations, micro cell base stations, and so forth.
In a heterogeneous network, a cell can potentially cause significant interference to a neighboring cell. For instance, a UE can attempt to access a macro cell base station, but the UE can be located closer to a femto cell base station or a pico cell base station. By way of example, the UE may be unable to access the femto cell base station if the femto cell base station has restricted association. Thus, the femto cell base station can be a strong interferer to the macro cell base station. Pursuant to another example, the pico cell base station can impose significant interference to the macro cell base station when implementing range extension.
Interference from a neighboring cell in a heterogeneous network can detrimentally impact distribution of system information. More particularly, a Master Information Block (MIB) can include a limited number of parameters that can be used by a UE for initial access to a cell. The MIB can be carried on a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). The PBCH conveys time-critical information which is essential for decoding control and data channels. Further, in a synchronous system, PBCH signals from neighboring cells can collide with each other since the PBCH signals from the neighboring cells are typically sent at a common time on a common set of resource elements. Conventional techniques for sending and decoding the PBCH signals are oftentimes detrimentally impacted in a strong interference environment.

Interference mitigation by puncturing transmission of interfering cells


An improved swim fin comprises a foot-packet formation formed with a foot-receiving cavity, and a fin blade attached and extending longitudinally beyond the foot-packet formation to a trailing edge thereof for a substantial length. The fin blade has an imaginary center line splitting down the middle thereof to separate the same into two symmetric portions. The fin blade further comprises: at least a first movable member and at least a second movable member. Both of the movable members are triangular shaped. The first movable member is disposed on one of the two portions of the fin blade and is connected to the fin blade by a first connecting edge such that the first movable member can wiggle using the first connecting edge as pivot within a predefined angle. The second movable member is disposed on another portion of the fin blade and is connected to the fin blade by a second connecting edge such that the second movable member can wiggle using the second connecting edge as pivot within an predefined angle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a swim fin, and more particularly, to a swim fin having at least a pair of movable members disposed on the fin blade thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Swim fins substantially increase the surface area of a swimmer's foot thereby to increase force exerted by the foot on the water when swimming. Such fins generally include a foot-packet formation defining a foot-receiving cavity and a fin blade extending longitudinally beyond a user's foot for a substantial length. However, conventional swim fins currently available on the market all posses some kinds of imperfection in their fin blade design that require to be improved.
The swim fin as disclosed in R.O.C. Pat. 348543 includes a foot-packet formation and a fin blade, wherein the fin blade is integrally formed and is connected to the foot-packet formation by an inclination angle. In addition, both the upper and lower surfaces of the fin blade have a plurality of ribs disposed thereon for directing water flow with respect to the blade surface. As illustrated in R.O.C. Pat. 348543, the swim fin uses repulsive force exerted on the fin blade by water flow to create propulsion while the water flow also exerts drags to the same due to the formation of turbulence around the fin blade. Therefore, conventional swim fins generally can not have satisfactory propulsion efficiency.
Moreover, the swim fin as disclosed in R.O.C. Pat. 427172 includes a foot-packet formation and a fin blade, wherein the fin blade have two outward-inclined side rails and a inward-curled trailing edge. The two side rails and the trailing edge along with the bottom of the blade forms a spoon-like structure that can bags water therein to enable the two side rails to expand outwardly for increasing the amount of water pressured by the same and the operating surface thereof during a kicking stroke. In addition, the counter action of the kicking stroke will enable the two side rails to shrink inwardly for reducing resistance. However, the swim fin of R.O.C. Pat. 427172 still can not solve the problem of the drag exerting on the blade by water flow.
In addition, the swim fins as disclosed in R.O.C. Pat. 422117, U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,631 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,868 are unconventional paddle-like swim fins. These swim fins each comprises a foot-packet formation and a fin blade, wherein the fin blade further comprises a plurality of recesses incorporated thereon for directing water flow and two stiffening members arranged respectively at two sides of the fin blade. The fin blade is split down the middle, so it forms a left blade half and a right blade half that are symmetric with respect to each other. This special blade shape, when kick under water, creates propulsion by generating a pressure differential above and below the blade, in addition to the repulsive force created by kicking such that the swim fin can have better propulsion efficiency. However, the overall structural integrity of the forgoing swim fin is not strong enough to endure a long-hour and frequent usage that it is easy to deform.
In view of the above description, if a conventional swim fin has a good structural integrity, it will suffer a poor propulsion efficiency. On the other hand, if a conventional swim fin can create a pressure differential in the water flow to achieve satisfactory performance, it will suffer a poor structural integrity. In this regard, an improved swim fin is required.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,607,857 discloses a prior art swim fin that uses ribs to support a webbing to form a fin structure. The ribs are pivotally connected to a swivel plate and can pivot together with the webbing so as to provide the function of swim fin. However, since the webbing is merely supported by the ribs only, therefore, if the ribs of U.S. Pat. No. 1,607,857 are removed, then the webbing will lose its support and cannot provide the function of swim fin anymore.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,470 discloses a prior art swim fin 9 that comprises two rectangular flaps 91 formed on the web 92 thereof as shown in FIG. 9. The web 92 is formed with a longitudinal stiffening rib which is extending along a middle line 93 of the swim fin 9. The rectangular flaps 91 are located at two sides of the middle line 93 and are formed by means of U-shaped through slots 94. Since the two rectangular flaps 91 are symmetric and have the same distance between the trailing edge 95 and the flaps 91, the water flows 961, 962, 963 passing through the flaps 91 will be substantially parallel to the middle line 93 or even dispersed out from the middle line 93 as shown in FIG. 9. As a result, the efficiency and propulsion of the prior art swim fin 9 is also dispersed.


A multi-shade video conversion system is described to provide an enhanced "Macintosh SE/30" computer to display multi-shade images on the "SE/30" internal CRT. The conventional "SE/30" computer has a microprocessor motherboard, an expansion slot, and an internal CRT. An internal CRT amplifier apart from the motherboard normally receives and responds a binary video signal from the microprocessor motherboard to drive the internal CRT. The conversion system comprises a video frame buffer expansion board, a replacement analog CRT amplifier, and replacement cabling. The frame buffer expansion board generates an analog video signal which is selected provided to the replacement CRT amplifier, allowing multi-shade images to be displayed in the internal CRT. The frame buffer expansion board also has an auxiliary video output port to drive an external CRT. The replacement cabling supplies the motherboard binary video signal to the expansion board rather than to the replacement CRT amplifier. A primary video switch on the frame buffer expansion board provides the analog signal to the external CRT and the binary video signal to the internal CRT if the auxiliary CRT is connected to the auxiliary video output port. It provides the analog video signal to internal CRT if the auxiliary CRT is not connected to the auxiliary video output port. The frame buffer expansion board includes means for automatically sensing whether the external CRT is connected.

FIG. 1 shows in simplified block diagram a "Macintosh SE/30" personal computer, generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The "SE/30" is manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc., of Cupertino, Calif. It has a box-like computer housing (not shown) which generally contains everything necessary for computer operation except a keyboard and a printer. A microprocessor motherboard 12 integrates most of the necessary electronics, including floppy and hard disk drive interfaces, communications ports, and video circuits. Motherboard 12 also provides a single expansion slot 13.
The "SE/30" has an integrated, internal CRT (cathode ray tube) 14 mounted within the computer housing. CRT 14 is driven by the motherboard video circuits and additionally by a sweep board 16 and an internal CRT amplifier 18, both of which are separate from motherboard 12 but still contained within the computer housing.
Integrated on motherboard 12 is a two-state video driver 15 which generates a binary video signal BVID, a vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, and a horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC. The motherboard video signals are all binary, logic-level signals. Therefore, at any time each motherboard video signal has either a "high" voltage, typically approximately five volts, or a "low" voltage, typically approximately zero volts.
Sweep board 16 receives the motherboard video signals. It translates the logic-level VSYNC and HSYNC signals to the voltage levels required by CRT 14 and provides them as VSWEEP and HSWEEP to CRT 14. Sweep board 16 reduces the amplitude of motherboard binary video signal BVID from five volts to one volt, producing a reduced amplitude binary video signal RVID. Sweep board 16 also performs other functions related to driving CRT 14, such as producing grid and heater voltages.
CRT amplifier 18 normally receives the reduced amplitude binary video signal RVID, producing in response an amplified video signal AVID to drive the cathode of internal CRT 14. Amplified video signal AVID has a peak voltage of about thirty volts.
Because the video circuits of the "SE/30" computer are primarily integrated on its motherboard, rather than on a removable expansion board, upgrading to a multi-shade or color video display system is essentially prevented.
This invention resolves the need for an acceptable way of upgrading the "Macintosh SE/30" computer and similar computers to display multi-shade images, providing as well further new and innovative features which allow the "SE/30" computer to be used in modern and more complex applications than had previously been possible.


Provided herein are compositions comprising functionalized gallium-based semiconductor nanoparticles for use in nanoprint resins and high-index overcoat materials. Also provided are methods of manufacturing functionalized gallium-based semiconductor nanoparticles and nanoprint resins and high-index overcoat materials using gallium-based semiconductor nanoparticles.

The present disclosure generally relates to manufacturing of optical components, and specifically to using nanoparticle dispersion to increase an optical index of refraction.
Different forms of optical components (e.g., waveguides, diffraction gratings, etc.) often benefit from having a high index of refraction. However, materials with naturally high indices of refraction often have downsides (e.g., difficult to shape, reactive, expensive, etc.). Accordingly, conventional manufacturing processes are somewhat limited in producing high index optical components.

Nanoparticle dispersion for increasing optical index of refraction


Provided is a charged particle beam exposure method placing an mask having openings in an exposure apparatus that including a deflector which deflects a charged particle beam on the mask, applying a first voltage to the deflector, the first voltage deflects the beam at an first opening, sequentially exposing all the character patterns which can be exposed by the beam shaped by the first opening after a stabilization time set as a function of a voltage has elapsed after applying the first voltage, applying a second voltage to the deflector after all the character patterns have been exposed by the beam shaped by the first opening, the second voltage deflects the beam at a next opening, and exposing all the character patterns which can be exposed by the beam shaped by the next opening after the stabilization time has elapsed after applying the second voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charged particle beams exposure method and a method for producing charged particle beam exposure data for the purpose of throughput improvement when a pattern is transferred by charged particle beam exposure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Exposure of a circuit pattern of a semiconductor device using electron beam (EB) lithography technique does not require providing a mask required for exposure in photolithography, and is suitable to produce a fine pattern. However, in a variable shaping beam (VSB) scheme for dividing a pattern to be exposed into fine rectangles, thereby sequentially exposing, the number of shots is increased, and throughput is degraded. In contrast, a character projection (CP) scheme for exposing repetition patterns of some microns (characters) is introduced, thereby making it possible to restrict division into fine rectangles, and reduce the number of shots.
In exposure of a circuit pattern of a semiconductor device using an electron beam exposure apparatus as shown in FIG. 22, a pattern to be exposed is divided into fine basic patterns, and exposure of the fine patterns is repeated at the corresponding positions on a sample, thereby forming a pattern. Hereinafter, a description will be given in more detail.
An electron beam 401 emitted from an electron gun 400 is adjusted in current density by a condenser lens 402, and a first shaping aperture mask 406 is uniformly illuminated. In order to prevent irradiation into a area in which no electron beam is irradiated, a deflection voltage is applied from a blanking amplifier 403 to a blanking deflector 404, whereby the electron beam 401 is deflected, and is interrupted by a blanking aperture mask 405.
The electron beam 401 shaped in rectangle by means of the first shaping aperture mask 406 is formed as an image on a second shaping aperture mask 410 by a projecting lens 407. At this time, from a shaping deflection amplifier 408, the deflection voltage corresponding to the deflection quantity of the electron beam 401 is applied to a shaping deflector 409, whereby the electron beam is formed in a desired shape. Methods for shaping the electron beam 401 include a variable shaping beam (VSB) scheme and a character projection (CP) scheme.
In the VSB scheme, a pattern is exposed after being divided into a basic pattern of rectangle of a maximum beam size or less. The beam irradiation position is shifted relevant to a opening for VSB of the second shaping aperture mask 410, whereby a rectangular beam of its arbitrary size is shaped, and each pattern divided by using the shaped pattern is exposed.
In the CP scheme, a character of its size equal to or smaller than the maximum beam size is extracted from the pattern, and a character shaped opening is located at the second shaping aperture mask 410. A plurality of characters can be used, a beam is deflected and irradiated to a desired opening of the character shaped openings located in plurality, wherein character shaped basic patterns are exposed in all.
The shaped electron beam 401 is reduced by a reduction lens 411, and is formed as an image on a sample 417 by using an objective lens 414. At this time, the electron beam 401 is deflected by means of a main-deflector 416 to which a deflection voltage is applied from a main-deflection amplifier 415 and a sub-deflector 413 to which a deflection voltage is applied from a sub-deflection amplifier 412, whereby the deflected beam is irradiated to a desired position of the sample 417.
This procedure is repeated until all the divided patterns have been exposed. This single electron beam exposure is referred to as a "shot". In order to carry out an electron beam shot, as described previously, at least four deflectors 404, 409, 413, and 416 are used, and voltages to be applied to these deflectors each must be changed in response to each shot.
FIG. 23 shows a relationship between a distance when a voltage is applied to a shaping deflector to move the irradiation position of the electron beam on the second shaping aperture mask and a time for its deflection voltage to be stabilized. In the case where the electron beam is significantly deflected, the corresponding large voltage is applied to the deflector. If the large voltage is applied, when the same deflection amplifier is used, a time for a voltage value to be stabilized is extended. In FIG. 23, the deflection voltage is obtained as a relationship of V1=2V2, and a time for these voltages to be stabilized is obtained as a relationship of t1=2t2.
That is, when the deflection quantity of electron beam increases, a large voltage is applied to the deflector, and a waiting time for the beam to be stabilized is extended as well. This waiting time is referred to as a "stabilization time".
In the current electron beam exposure apparatus, the stabilization time when the maximum voltage is applied to the deflector is defined as a reference, and a stabilization time is made identical to another irrespective of the deflection voltage value.
From among these deflectors, a description will be given with respect to a main-deflector and a sub-deflector. FIG. 24A to FIG. 24C each show an exposure method using these deflectors. The sample 417 is placed on a stage (not shown), and an electron beam is irradiated while the stage moves continuously or stepwise. A unit in which this sample 417 is moved by the stage is referred to as a "frame". As shown in FIG. 24A, a frame 500 is set in a piece shape relevant to the sample 417. That is, the sample 417 is exposed while it is moved by the stage for each frame 500.
Each frame is further exposed in each main field area 501, as shown in FIG. 24B. The main field area 501 is generally as large as some hundreds of microns to several millimeters. In the case where the stage moves stepwise, it often moves for such each main field area 501. Further, the main field area 501 is exposed for each sub field area 502. After the pattern in the sub field area 502 has been exposed, the deflection voltage is applied to the main-deflector. Then, the electron beam is deflected, and a sub field area 502 in which next exposure is carried out is selected. The size of the sub field area 502 is generally within the range from some tens of microns to some hundreds of microns, and a stabilization time of the deflection voltage to be applied from the main-deflection amplifier is often set to 1 second to several micro second.
Then, the electron beam is deflected by the sub-deflector, whereby, as shown in FIG. 24C, the shaped electron beams are sequentially shot at predetermined positions in the sub field area 502, and an EB shot pattern 503 is exposed. In general, the maximum size of electron beam is within the range from one to several microns, and the stabilization time for the deflection voltage to be applied from the sub-deflection amplifier is set to some hundreds of nanoseconds.
In the case where a character opening is selected for each EB shot, it is required to move a long deflection distance for each EB shot. A area in which a character can be selected by beam deflection using a shaping deflector of the second shaping aperture mask is within the range of some hundreds of microns to several millimeters. Therefore, the stabilization time of the deflection voltage to be applied from the shaping deflection amplifier when deflection should be carried out at the same time is extended as compared with the stabilization time of the deflection voltage to be applied from the sub-deflection amplifier required for emitting the electron beam onto a wafer for each EB shot. As a result, the long stabilization time is integrated for each EB shot, a total of stabilization times is extended, and then, exposure throughput is degraded. Even when the number of EB shots is reduced in accordance with the CP scheme, if the stabilization time is very long, exposure in accordance with the VSB scheme can improve throughput more significantly.
As described above, even when the number of EB shots is reduced in accordance with the CP scheme, if the deflection distance on the CP aperture mask is long, and the stabilization time is very long, there has been a problem that exposure in the VSB scheme can improve throughput more significantly.

Charged particle beam exposure method and method for producing charged particle beam exposure data


An atmospheric pressure plasma device including a plasma head; a gas tube configured to supply a gas to the plasma head; a flow rate controller configured to control a flow rate of the gas supplied to the gas tube; a pressure sensor arranged downstream of the flow rate controller and configured to detect a pressure in the gas tube; and a determining section configured to determine a state of the device based on how the pressure in the gas tube deviates from a standard value specified for each flow rate of the supplied gas. As a result, it is possible to determine the gas leakage of the atmospheric pressure plasma device. Further, it is possible to determine whether plasma is being generated in a favorable state.

Conventionally, there is a plasma processing device for performing plasma processing on a target object which includes a pressure gauge for detecting the pressure in a gas tube. An example of such technology can be found in the "plasma processing device, plasma processing method, and storage medium" of JP-A-2012-129356. Disclosed therein is a plasma processing device that performs plasma processing of applying plasma of a processing gas to a target board, the device being provided with: a processing container in which the target board is accommodated and from which air can be evacuated; a lower electrode arranged in the processing container and that functions as a loading stand for the target board; an upper electrode arranged in the processing container facing the lower electrode and including a removable electrode plate that ejects a shower of processing gas inside the processing container; a gas supply unit including gas tube for supplying the processing gas to the upper electrode; a high-frequency electric power application unit for plasma generation that applies high-frequency electric power for plasma generation to at least one of upper electrode or the lower electrode; a pressure gauge that detects a pressure inside the gas tube; and a control section that determines a wear level of the electrodes based on the detection result of the pressure inside the gas tube detected by the pressure gauge, calculates a change in the processing rate based on the wear to the electrodes, and adjusts processing conditions to take account of the change in the processing rate.


An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet. In the fixing unit, a magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux to induce heat in a support roller. The heat is transferred to a fixing belt contacting the support roller. The recording sheet having the toner image is inserted between the fixing belt and a pressure roller facing the fixing belt. A holder holds the magnetic flux generator and positions the magnetic flux generator to face outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the support roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for image forming, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively fixing a toner image on a recording sheet by using induction heating in a fixing unit providing improved efficiency in heating and maintenance. The present invention also relates to the fixing unit and an induction heater used therein.
2. Description of the Background Art
Background image forming apparatuses, such as copiers and printers, include fixing units using an induction heating method. The induction heating method may shorten a time period required for the fixing units to become operable after the fixing units are powered on, and may reduce an energy consumption.
One example of the fixing units includes a fixing belt, a support roller, an auxiliary fixing roller, an induction heater, and a pressure roller. The fixing belt is laid across the support roller and the auxiliary fixing roller. The induction heater faces the support roller via the fixing belt. The pressure roller faces the auxiliary fixing roller via the fixing belt. The induction heater includes an exciting coil and a core. The exciting coil is provided along the core and extends in directions parallel to a surface of a recording sheet in conveyance and perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording sheet which is conveyed between the pressure roller and the auxiliary fixing roller.
A high-frequency alternating current is applied to the exciting coil to generate a magnetic field around the exciting coil. The magnetic field induces an eddy current near a surface of the support roller. An electrical resistance of the support roller generates Joule heat. The Joule heat is transferred to the fixing belt from the support roller. The heated fixing belt heats and fixes a toner image on the recording sheet at a position where the pressure roller and the auxiliary fixing roller oppose to each other.
In the above fixing unit, it is possible to increase a surface temperature of the fixing belt to a target fixing temperature in a short time period without consuming much energy. However, the exciting coil may face the support roller at variable positions, resulting in a fluctuation of the heating efficiency.
Another example of fixing units includes a fixing roller and an exciting coil. The fixing roller includes a hollow cylinder. The exciting coil includes a wire wound around the fixing roller a plurality of times, so that the exciting coil faces outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the fixing roller.
In the above fixing unit, it is possible to effectively increase a surface temperature of the fixing roller. However, once the wire is wound around the fixing roller, the wire cannot be separated from the fixing roller, resulting in inefficient maintenance operations.
In the above fixing units, a temperature of a part of the fixing belt or the fixing roller may overly increase when the image fixing is conducted a number of times in a consecutive manner relative to smaller-size recording sheets. A temperature of the whole fixing belt or fixing roller may overly increase when the fixing unit accidentally stops operating due to a paper jam.

Image forming method and apparatus, image fixing unit, and induction heater used therein


An intake variable valve timing mechanism (VVT) that collectively changes an intake valve close timing as a close timing of a plurality of intake valves and a control device that controls an engine including a plurality of injectors and the intake VVT are provided. When a specified engine stop condition is satisfied, a fuel cut is performed to stop a fuel supply into a plurality of cylinders by the injector. After the fuel cut, the intake VVT is controlled such that a retarded amount of the intake valve close timing immediately before a stop of a stop-time compression stroke cylinder as a cylinder stopped in a compression stroke from intake bottom dead center is larger than a retarded amount of the intake valve close timing immediately before a stop of a stop-time expansion stroke cylinder as a cylinder stopped in an expansion stroke from the intake bottom dead center.

Conventionally, in a vehicle on which an engine is mounted, in order to improve fuel efficiency, the engine is automatically stopped, and thereafter the engine is forcibly started by using start means.
Here, in a multicylinder engine including a plurality of cylinders, since torque that is requested to the start means in order to start the engine varies according to a position of each of the cylinders (a piston position in each of the cylinders) at an engine stop, it is required to set the position of each of the cylinders to a position suited for the start at the engine stop.
To handle such a problem, for example, for the engine disclosed in JP2013-60827A, the following control is executed immediately before the stop of the engine. That is, control is executed to increase an opening degree of a throttle valve after completion of air intake of a stop-time expansion stroke cylinder (a final expansion cylinder in JP2013-60827A) as a cylinder that is stopped in an expansion stroke, so as to increase an intake amount of a stop-time compression stroke cylinder (a final compression cylinder in JP2013-60827A) as a cylinder that is stopped in a compression stroke.


A trailer that can be lowered to the floor or ground for loading, and after the trailer is loaded, it can be elevated to a height appropriate for transportation. Six elements are required for the taller to operate: a chassis, two axles (torsion bars), four pivoting arms, four hubs with wheels, two hydraulic cylinders, and a manually operated hydraulic or electric pump.

Presently, heavy duty cargo trailers are typically built using four wheels that are placed together as close as possible to the trailer's center of gravity. This type of trailer is able to "seesaw" as the trailer remains in a reasonably balanced condition on the four wheels. This type of trailer can be seated on one axle where the position of the four wheels is determined along an arm that is perpendicular to the length of the trailer and measured such that the center of the wheels correspond to the center of gravity of the trailer. Also, two axles can be used. In this case, the wheels are mounted on a suspension system.
Both of these methods of construction have a fixed height and it is not possible to load them without elevating the load by using another system.
Consequently, there is not found in the prior art a trailer such that the trailer can be lowered to facilitate loading and unloading.


A memory device can include a plurality of memory cells formed in a substrate, each having a resistive element programmable between at least two different resistance states, including memory cells configured to store data received by the memory device, and reference cells; a reference circuit formed in the substrate configured to generate at least a first reference resistance from resistances of a plurality of reference cells; a sense circuit formed in the substrate coupled to the memory cells and at least the first reference resistance and configured to compare a resistance of a selected memory cell to at least the first reference resistance to determine the data stored by the selected memory cell.

Resistive memory devices enjoy continued popularity due to their low power consumption, nonvolatile storage capabilities, and ease of integration into existing fabrication processes. Conventional resistive memory devices store data in a memory cell by programming one or more resistive elements. Typically, resistive elements can be set (programmed) to a lower resistance or reset (erased) to a high resistance. A data value stored by a memory cell can be determined according to a difference in resistance between the memory cell and a fixed reference resistance.
A challenge presented by conventional resistive memory devices is cell resistance drift. Due to various factors, including but not limited to use (program and/or erase cycles), temperature cycles, or even the passage of time, resistance values can change. As a result, a difference in resistance between the reference resistance and some memory cells can grow smaller, leading to errors in sensing data.
FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams showing conventional data sensing (e.g., read) operations for a resistive memory device. FIGS. 19A and 19B show a sigma probability distribution for the resistance of memory cells in programmed states (Program) and erased states (Erase). FIG. 19A shows resistance distributions for a "fresh" memory device. A fresh memory device can be a memory device that has been subject to no, or very little, programming (e.g., cycles). FIG. 19A also shows a fixed reference resistance Rref. FIG. 19A shows various sensing "windows" corresponding to a difference between the resistance of a memory cell and Rref. Window A shows a sensing window for a typical (i.e., median) erased cell. Window A′ shows a sensing window for an erased cell at the lower resistance end of the distribution (e.g., tail bit). Window B shows a sensing window for a typical programmed cell.
FIG. 19B shows shifted resistance distributions for the memory device. Such a shifting can result from various factors, including but not limited to those noted above. As shown, memory cells in both the programmed state (Program) and erased state (Erase) have shifted in a more resistive direction. Consequently, while sensing windows for erased cells (e.g., As and As′) have grown larger, the sense window for programmed cells (e.g., Bs) has decreased. As a result, sense (read) operations to programmed memory cells, especially those at the higher resistance end of the distribution, may erroneously determine the cell is erased instead of programmed.
A conventional approach to ensuring wide sensing windows for a resistive memory device is to use a differential sensing scheme. In a conventional differential sensing scheme, a data bit is stored using two resistive elements programmed to opposite states instead of one resistive element programmed to one state or another. Accordingly, a sense window is presented by the difference in resistance between the two states. That is, if a first resistive element has greater resistance than a second resistive element, the bit is determined to have one value (e.g., a zero). Conversely, if the second resistive element has greater resistance than the first resistive element, the bit is determined to have the other value (e.g., a one). Differential sensing schemes can utilize memory cells with two resistive elements to store one bit, or two separate memory cells each with one resistive element to store one bit.
FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams like FIGS. 19A and 19B, however, instead of showing sensing windows relative to a fixed reference resistance, differential sensing windows are shown. FIG. 20A shows a nominal sensing window Adiff′ (e.g., resistive element having a median Program resistance and a resistive element having a median Erase resistance). FIG. 20A also shows a "worst case" sensing window Adiff (e.g., high Program resistance with low Erase resistance). FIG. 20B shows the same sensing windows with shifted resistance values. As shown, both a nominal sensing window Adiffs' and a worst case sensing window Adiffs remain relatively large.
A drawback to conventional differential sensing schemes can be the high cost in area. Because two programmable resistive elements are needed for each data bit, double the area may be needed as compared to single element memory cells.

Reference circuits and methods for resistive memories


Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations including: clipping an average velocity grid of a seismic reference surface (SRSAV), in an oil and gas field, to remove average velocity data of a region containing high-angle, horizontal (HA/HZ) boreholes, wherein the seismic reference surface approximates a geological reference surface; based on (i) a depth grid of the geological reference surface (GRSD) generated using HA/HZ borehole data, and (ii) a time grid of the seismic reference surface (SRST), generating borehole average velocity grid (BAV) along the HA/HZ boreholes; gridding the BAV with the clipped SRSAV to generate a hybrid seismic borehole average velocity grid (HSBAV) of the oil and gas field; and based on the HSBAV and the SRST, generating a hybrid seismic geological depth grid (HSGD) of the oil and gas field.

Traditionally, vertical well drilling has been used in oil and gas fields for hydrocarbon exploration and extraction. More recently, high-angle, horizontal (HA/HZ) well drilling is being used in oil and gas fields, particularly to optimize oil recovery from reservoir zones or shale reservoirs. However, many current geological modeling techniques only utilize data from vertical wells. Additionally, fields that have three-dimensional (3D) seismic survey coverage have struggled to honor HA/HZ well data.

Creating seismic depth grids using horizontal wells


There is provided an input device capable of detecting a motion of a hand of a user (102) and suitable to perform input of digital data with. The input device (100) can be gripped by a hand of the user (102) and serves to input information to a given apparatus. The input device (100) includes: manipulation portions (112a to 112e) which can be bent by manipulation of the user (102); bend sensors (114a to 114e) for detecting bend amounts of the manipulation portions (112a to 112e); vibrators (120) for generating vibrations to be transmitted to the user (102); and a processor (118). The processor (118) generates vibration in the vibrator according to the information on the bend amounts of the manipulation portions (112a to 112e) detected by the bend sensors (114a to 114e).

In the prior art, there have been various types of input devices including a joystick and a joypad. Data gloves are known as one of such the input devices.
A data glove receives a user's hand in its pouch-like main body to be used like a glove. For instance, when the data glove is used as an input device for a computer, an image simulating the user's hand is displayed in a virtual space shown on a display. As the user moves the hand wearing the data glove, the data glove inputs information according to the motion to the computer, and the image simulating the hand moves to follow the motion.
A usual means to enter characters is a keyboard. Cellular phones and the like typically employ numeric keypads in place of keyboards.
In the case where a game machine or the like uses a joypad or a joystick to enter characters in a character input area displayed on a display, a picture of a keyboard and a cursor are usually shown on a screen to receive a key input from a user. The user manipulates a four-way scroll key on the joypad or a stick of the joystick to place the cursor on a desired key of the keyboard displayed on the screen, and then presses a button on the joypad or the joystick, thereby determining the pointed key as a key having a desired character, thus the desired character is in the character input area.
In a data glove, a finger bend amount threshold is set for an action of pressing a button, for example. However, in a case where digital data is output when the finger bend amount exceeds the threshold, it is difficult for users to know the amount of finger bend necessary for triggering recognition of the press of a button.
Therefore, in the above-mentioned example, a motion that is perceived by the user as corresponding to the action of "pressing a button" may not trigger the data glove as the press of a button because the finger bend amount is not enough. Thoroughly bending and stretching the fingers can facilitate reliable recognition of the press of a button, but the excess finger movement amount imposes increasing burden on the user, tiring the user more. Also, it is desirable to minimize the finger movement amount when a quick input is needed.
Conventional input devices also have difficulties in meeting such a request that requires simultaneous digital data inputs from the user's five fingers. For instance, when a button is allocated to each of the user's five fingers and the five buttons are to be turned on all at once, it is very difficult for the user to know a finger bend amount that is enough to make the input device recognize that the button is turned on for each finger, and to bend the five fingers simultaneously until a bend amount enough for the recognition of turning on of the button is reached for each finger. In addition, it is difficult to carry out with accuracy such manipulation as bending specific three fingers out of five. Another difficulty in using data gloves and other similar devices is accomplishing a frequently repeated series of actions with a simple manipulation.
Moreover, having a pouch-like main body in which a user's hand is inserted while in use, a usual data glove tends to be large in size in order to accommodate such a main body. Also, since the data glove being constructed for use with the user's hand inserted therein, it takes a considerable amount of time for a user to pick up the data glove and insert his/her hand in the data glove. When a user is to wear data gloves on both hands, in particular, putting a data glove on one hand with the other hand, which is already wearing a data glove is difficult and requires a considerable amount of time. Wearing a data glove also makes it difficult to carry out such actions as manipulating a remote controller for TV and writing down information important to the course of the game that is shown on the display. Putting on and taking off a data glove are particularly cumbersome when the user removes the data glove before taking those actions and puts the data glove back on after finishing the actions.
Entering characters via a joystick, a joypad, or the like, on the other hand, requires a cumbersome, time-consuming manipulation which involves searching over a keyboard displayed on the screen for a desired key, placing the cursor exactly on the desired key, and then pressing the enter button.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an input device and an input method that are easy for users to use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an input device and an input method that are capable of detecting the motion of a user's hand and that are suitable for digital data input.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can be gripped by a user while in use and that is suitable for digital data input.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can quickly be made ready to use without requiring a cumbersome action such as insertion of a user's hand into a pouch-like main body.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an input device that is more compact in size than conventional data gloves with pouch-like main bodies, and that is capable of detecting the motion of a user's hand.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a character input method and an input device with which characters can easily be entered without the use of a keyboard or a numeric keypad.

Input device and method, and character input method


The present invention discloses an electronic candle, which includes a candle body, wherein a cavity is formed inside the candle body, a lamp hole is formed in the upper surface of the candle body, a light-emitting unit is installed inside the cavity and includes a base, a first through hole and a second through hole are formed in the upper surface of the base, fixed pipes are clamped in the first through hole and the second through hole, a first light-emitting body is inserted at the lower part of the fixed pipe in the first through hole, a second light-emitting body is inserted at the lower part of the fixed pipe in the second through hole. The electronic candle is reasonable in structure, safe in use and good in effect; and the candle body is also capable of generating a seven-colored effect, thus the electronic candle is very attractive.

The present invention relates to an electronic candle with a light guiding body of simulating a candlewick. The light guiding body protrudes out of the upper surface of a candle body; the lower end of the light guiding body is at least optically connected with a light source; and the light source is positioned in a cavity in the candle body. For example, WO 2006/104898 A1 describes such one electronic candle.
Now, a candle is used as handmade furnishings but not limited to an illuminating function only. In addition, there are candles with perfumes as scented candles now. However, these candles need to be ignited for burning, are higher in relative cost, and may cause potential safety hazards. Meanwhile, these candles are single and invariable in appearance.
Recently, so-called electronic candles appear in the market; and although the electronic candles eliminate the above-mentioned potential safety hazards, the appearance of the electronic candles does not meet the demand of people, and actually-burning candles can not be visually simulated.

Nantong Ya Tai Candle Arts & Crafts Co., Ltd.


A device for controlling a capacitive charge, in particular a piezoelectric actuator (2) has a signal generator (6) which is used to control a first end step (1) which is used to produce a discrete signal on the capacitive charge. Device has a second end step (3, 4) which is used to generate a continuous signal on the capacitive charge. A counter-coupling of a deviation of an actual discrete signal is produced by a continuous signal required on the capacitive charge.

To enable piezoelectric actuators to be used in applications of automotive technology, building technology and automation technology controllers are needed which can generate voltage-time functions with steep edges and high final voltages at capacitive loads. To achieve a high efficiency switching end stages are used to control these actuators. The discontinuous supply of energy however results in a high level of harmonics and deviation of the actuator deflection from its setpoint function. The advantages of a high level of efficiency, lower rise times and higher final voltages are set against a greater harmonic proportion and deviation from the required value. In particular, when the method is used to control the actuators of a piezo motor, a high proportion of harmonics produces higher noise levels. A potential advantage of the piezoelectric drive, the silent idling, thus remains unused.
Control deviations and harmonics which are caused by discrete energy packets from switched end stages can be reduced by adapting the end stages to the piezo-electric actuators and to the time functions to be achieved.
Limits are imposed on this reduction however by the dynamic range of the circuits and components used, as well as by the effort involved in circuit construction. Thus "charge packets" generated by a switching end step can only be scaled within limits. An end stage with small rise times does not create charge packets of the given small size. A predetermined required value is thus not achieved without a deviation in regulation. Harmonics, created by the clocked operation and the high distortion factor of the generated control function resulting from the control deviations can in fact be attenuated by filtering. However, especially if useful and harmonic frequencies lie close together in the frequency band or if high noise levels are to be attenuated, the outlay involved is extraordinarily high and the efficiency is reduced.


A computing device and automatic method for reducing memory usage in a device having an execution environment, such as one using an interpretive scripting engine. Application code is analyzed to determine unused features. Based upon this analysis, a build process is configured to omit the unused features. Then, the execution environment is built for the application code that excludes features not used by the application code. The application code and the execution environment can then be loaded into a deployment device for execution of the application code by the execution environment.

Microcontroller units (MCU's) are used for a variety of applications such as computer peripherals, home automation devices (internet of things—IOT), automotive devices, industrial automation, environmental monitoring, etc. . . . Many MCU deployments suffer from limited resources such as memory (e.g. RAM, SRAM, ROM, EEPROM, hard drives, etc. . . . ) storage space. Memory size is sometimes so limited to help reduce cost because larger memory is generally more expensive. Common EEPROM (electrically-erasable read only memory or "flash" memory) sizes used in typical MCU devices as of this writing vary from 256 KB to 1 MB. Often, this flash memory is the only storage available on the device, so it must hold all software and required data (e.g. user interface assets) in addition to any user generated data (e.g. Wi-Fi configuration, network service credentials, stored sensor readings, scheduling data, etc.). Often developers of the software that must fit into these devices find that they have run out of space, and must take steps to free space. In short, there is a motivation to reduce the memory used in such deployments.
While the software for MCUs is sometimes written in C or C++ and implemented natively, the use of scripting languages to provide an execution environment for an application, such as scripts adhering to the ECMAScript standard (e.g. JavaScript the programming language used in many web browsers), for these devices is increasingly desirable and practical. The reasons for this demand include:                The ECMAScript language has proven to increase programmer productivity for many tasks;        Thanks to the success of ECMAScript on the web, mobile, and web servers there is a large pool of skilled ECMAScript developers;        The compiled ECMAScript bytecode to perform an operation is often more compact than the equivalent machine instructions.        Because it is a scripting language, code written in ECMAScript tends to be more reliable because certain classes of errors, such as reading or writing to invalid address and forgetting to free memory, are unlikely to occur; and Because these errors are prevented by the language, software written in ECMAScript has fewer opportunities for errors that lead to security problems and leaks of private user data.
The ECMAScript language is big. The 2017 edition of the language specification is approximately 1500 pages. A complete ECMAScript engine that conforms to the specification, such as XS by Moddable Tech, has a footprint that is too big to fit in 256 KB. It does fit into 1 megabyte of memory, as is typical in MCU deployments, though relatively little space remains for application code and assets.
One solution to reduce the memory size of an ECMAScript engine is to remove features of the ECMAScript language itself. This process could result in an ECMAScript engine that could lack features an application developer would use, breaking their code. Consequently, this subset no longer strictly conforms to the ECMAScript standard.
The process of removing features could be performed such that the deployed ECMAScript engine matches the needs of a deployed application, with only unused functionality being removed. This may be done manually in circumstances in which the application(s) to be executed are known and have a finite set of features which are used, rather than a script engine which is required to run any script presented to it and consequently must include all functionality. This approach is error-prone. On one hand, the developer may unintentionally remove functionality that a script relies on. This will generally only be detected when the script runs and invokes the removed feature. On the other hand, because some aspects of the ECMAScript language are subtle, the developer may not recognize that certain features are unused. The consequence of this is a virtual machine deployment that uses more memory than is strictly required. This approach is also time consuming, as dozens of language constructs and each of the over four hundred functions built into the standard ECMAScript language must be considered. If the only language features removed are unused by any scripts, their removal is unobservable to those scripts and therefore the resulting engine remains conformant to the language specification for all practical purposes.
There therefore exists a need for more efficient memory usage in an execution environment, such as that provided by a scripting language, that provides full functionality for the application without incurring errors caused by manual configuration of the execution environment.

Automatic configuration of an execution environment