A traffic alert and collision and avoidance system (TCAS) is disclosed. The TCAS comprises a first transponder and a first interrogator associated with a first aircraft. The first transponder sends an interrogation request. The TCAS also comprises a second transponder associated with a second aircraft. The second transponder responds to the interrogation request. The response comprises enhanced surveillance data that was asked for in the request.

Conventionally, avionics, engineers and certification bodies are improving and providing pilots and flight crews with information necessary to identify in-flight traffic. An approach has been to provide the flight crew with information on the location of other aircraft in the area. One exemplary system which is capable of providing this information, is known as a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS). The systems are required for all airliners flying the United States air space today. TCAS devices have been designed to interrogate transponders of other aircrafts, sometimes referred to as intruder aircraft. The TCAS system evaluates the threat of collision with other aircraft and coordinates an avoidance maneuver for the aircraft.
Recently, the aviation industry has worked to define a new standard of performance for Mode S transponders which are the communication devices used in most TCAS systems. The extension of the function of Mode S transponders is to provide more information about the state and plans of aircraft which are under surveillance. This extended information may collectively be called "enhanced surveillance". The feature is designed to provide ground-based aircraft control and additional information to enable improved management of air traffic. Although this information is provided from Mode S transponders to ground-based air traffic control, it may be desirable and useful for a first aircraft to be able to interrogate a Mode S transponder and receive enhanced surveillance information from a Mode S transponder on a second aircraft.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method in which the first aircraft may request and receive enhanced surveillance information from other airborne Mode S transponders. Further, there is a need for a system and method in which the first aircraft may request and receive enhanced surveillance information from a second aircraft Mode S transponder and provide integrity checking of the position of the aircraft. Further still, there is a need for a airborne system onboard a first aircraft which may interrogate a second aircraft's Mode S transponder at a variable rate, the rate dependent upon the determined dynamics of particular requested data.
It would be desirable to provide a system and/or method that provides one or more of these or other advantageous features. Other features and advantages will be made apparent from the present specification. The teachings disclosed extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the aforementioned needs.

Traffic alert and collision avoidance system enhanced surveillance system and method


A key in a vehicle socket closes contacts to reset a vehicle microcontroller to a neutral state. Ribs disposed in a particular pattern in the key operate switches in a particular pattern in the vehicle to provide an address for the vehicle with the vehicle inactive but powered. When the vehicle receives such individual address from a pad within a first particular time period thereafter, the vehicle is operated by commands from the pad. The pad operates the vehicle as long as the vehicle receives commands from the pad within the first particular period after the previous command from the pad. During this period, the vehicle has a first illumination to indicate that it is being operated. When the pad fails to provide commands to the vehicle within such first particular time period, the vehicle becomes inactive but powered and provides a second illumination. While inactive but powered, the vehicle can be addressed and subsequently commanded by any of the pads including the pad previously addressing the vehicle. The vehicle becomes de-activated and not illuminated if (a) the vehicle is not selected by any of the pads during a second particular time period after becoming inactivated but powered or, alternatively, (b) all of the vehicles become inactivated but powered and none is selected during the second particular period. The key can thereafter be actuated again to operate the vehicle to the inactive but powered state.

Various types of play systems exist, and have existed for some time, in which vehicles are moved on a remotely controlled basis. However, such systems generally provide one hand-held unit and one remotely controlled vehicle for operation by the hand-held unit. Examples of a vehicle in such a system are an automobile or an airplane. Furthermore, the functions of the remotely controlled unit, other than movement along a floor or along the ground or in the air, are quite limited.
Other types of play systems involve the use of blocks for building structures. These blocks often include structure for providing an interlocking relationship between abutting blocks. In this way, elaborate structures can be created by users with creative minds.
Tests have indicated that there is a desirability, and even a need, for play systems in which vehicles are remotely operated to perform functions other than to move aimlessly along a floor or along the ground. For example, tests have indicated that there is a desirability, and even a need, for a play system in which the remotely controlled vehicles can transport elements such as blocks to construct creative structures. There is also a desirability, and even a need, for play systems in which a plurality of vehicles can be remotely controlled by switches in hand-held pads to compete against one another in performing a first task or to co-operate in performing a second task. Such a desirability, or even a need, has existed for a long period of time, probably decades, without a satisfactory resolution.
Co-pending application Ser. No. 08/580,753 filed by John J. Crane on Dec. 29, 1995, for a "Remote Control System for Operating Toys" and assigned of record to the assignee of record of this application discloses and claims a play system for use by people of all ages with youthful minds. It provides for a simultaneous control by each player of an individual one of a plurality of remotely controlled vehicles. This control is provided by the operation by each such player of switches in a hand-held unit or pad, the operation of each switch in such hand-held unit providing a control of a different function in the individual one of the remotely controlled vehicles. Each of the remotely controlled vehicles in the system disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 08/580,753 can be operated in a competitive relationship with others of the remotely controlled vehicles or in a co-operative relationship with others of the remotely controlled vehicles. The vehicles can be constructed to pick up and transport elements such as blocks or marbles and to deposit such elements at displaced positions.
When manually closed in one embodiment of the system disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 08/580,753, switches in pads control the selection of toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles forwardly, rearwardly, to the left and to the right and moving upwardly and downwardly (and rightwardly and leftwardly) a receptacle for holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles) or blocks.
When sequentially and cyclically interrogated by a central station, each pad in the system disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 08/580,753 sends through wires to the central station signals indicating the switch closures in such pad. Such station produces first binary signals addressing the vehicle selected by such pad and second binary signals identifying the motor control operations in such vehicle. Thereafter the switches identifying in such pad the motor control operations in such selected vehicle can be closed without closing the switches identifying such vehicle.
The first and second signals for each vehicle in the system disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 08/580,753 are transmitted by wireless by the central station to all of the vehicles at a common carrier frequency modulated by the first and second binary signals. The vehicle identified by the transmitted address demodulates the modulating signals and operates its motors in accordance with such demodulation. When the station fails to receive signals from a pad for a particular period of time, the vehicle selected by such pad becomes available for selection by another pad and such pad can select that vehicle or another vehicle.
A cable may couple two (2) central stations (one as a master and the other as a slave) in the system disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 08/580,753 so as to increase the number of pads controlling the vehicles. Stationary accessories (e.g. elevator) connected by wires to the central station become operative when selected by the pads.

System for, and method of, selectively providing the operation of toy vehicles


A method of performing virtual connectivity change between first and second nets associated with an integrated circuit is presented. The method includes generating a first top view and a first perspective views of a layout of the integrated circuit when a computer is invoked to perform the virtual connectivity change. The method further includes defining layers associated with the first and second nets, and defining a boundary of the virtual connectivity change. The method further includes performing the virtual connectivity change between the first and second nets within the boundary, and generating a second top view and a second perspective view of the layout of the integrated circuit after the virtual connectivity change.

During failure analysis (FA) of an integrated circuit (IC) chip, the user identifies a failing net, e.g. a portion of the IC netlist that is not properly functioning. The failure may be caused by a short or open circuit. To confirm the cause of the failure, the user may perform focused ion beam (FIB) operations to repair the failed portion of the chip. Such actions may include two types of FIB operations; i) cutting wires or nets and/or ii) depositing metal to connect wires. The FIB operations may be performed in FA processing or implemented inline in manufacturing processes for the IC. Performing a FIB operation is time consuming and costly for manufacturing processes and often it is a guess to find the failure location. Therefore the user may desire assurance of the electrical connectivity post-FIB and especially seeks to avoid damaging the circuit if it is for an inline FIB operation. Verifying the desired result of the FIB operation before physically performing the FIB operation on the IC is therefore desirable. Unfortunately, the success of current FIB operations is heavily dependent on the user's skills.
Accordingly, there is a need for an electronic design automation (EDA) tool to virtually verify intended FIB operations before the FIB operations are physically performed.


A balloon for a blood vessel-dilating catheter is fabricated from a biaxially oriented film of an aromatic polyamide or an alloy thereof. The balloon has a calculated modulus of elasticity of from 70 to 190 kg/mm.sup.2. When the balloon is fabricated from an alloy of an aromatic polyamide, the alloy may contain up to 50% by weight of an aliphatic polyamide. The balloon of the invention is soft and flexible as well as dimensionally stable. Therefore, the balloon catheter has a high trackability, and may be inserted into the blood vessel without inducing any injury in the inner surface of the blood vessel. The balloon of the invention also has a good blood compatibility.

This invention is directed to a balloon for a blood vessel-dilating catheter.
A balloon catheter having an inflatable balloon secured at its distal end has been applied for various cavities in a living body including a blood vessel. Utility of the balloon catheter is increasing in various medical fields.
Of the balloon catheters mentioned above, a blood vessel-dilating catheter is employed in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) to dilate a stenosis or a narrowing in a blood vessel such as coronary artery. In PTCA, the femoral artery is secured, for example, by the Serdinger method; a guiding catheter is introduced into the thus secured femoral artery and advanced through the lumen of the artery until it reaches near the target lesion, the narrowing in the artery, by manipulating a guide wire; a blood vessel-dilating catheter is introduced into the lumen of the guiding catheter to locate the balloon beyond the distal end of the blood vessel-dilating catheter; and a blood vessel-dilating fluid is introduced into the lumen of the blood vessel-dilating catheter to inflate the balloon to thereby dilate the narrowing in the blood vessel.
Such a blood vessel-dilating catheter is required to have a trackability so that the blood vessel-dilating catheter can smoothly advance through the lumen of the guiding catheter along the tortuous blood vessel to reach the lesion site. The balloon is required to have a sufficient dimensional stability as well as excellent strength and flexibility so as to avoid excessive dilatation of the narrowing of the blood vessel.
Typical balloons for balloon catheters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,093,484; 4,154,244; 4,254,774; 4,906,244; and 5,108,415; and PCT Application No. JP88/00202.
The balloons described in these patents and patent application comprise a mixture of an ethylene-buthylene-styrene block copolymer and a low molecular weight polystyrene having polypropylene optionally added thereto; a composition similar to the one just mentioned wherein butadiene or isoprene is used instead of the ethylene and the buthylene; polyvinyl chloride; polyurethane; a polyester copolymer; a thermoplastic rubber; a silicone-polycarbonate copolymer; an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer; biaxially oriented Nylon 12; biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate; polyethylene; a crosslinked ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer; etc.
The materials particularly used for the balloons of the blood vessel-dilating catheters include polyvinyl chloride (hereinafter abbreviated as PVC), polyethylene (hereinafter abbreviated as PE), biaxially oriented Nylon 12 (hereinafter abbreviated as N12), and biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter abbreviated as PET).
Among these, aliphatic high polymers such as PE, PVC, and N12 are highly flexible, realizing a sufficient trackability. These materials, however, are insufficient in their strength to detract from dimensional stability.
PET, on the other hand, has excellent strength and dimensional stability. PET, however, has an excessively high modulus of elasticity due to crystallization caused by the biaxial orientation, and therefore, is inferior in impact strength, tear resistance and flexibility, leading to poor trackability of the catheter.
Furthermore, PET is poor in coating adaptability, adhesibility, and heat sealability to suffer from insufficient operativity and workability in preparing the balloon catheter. In addition, PET inherently lacks antithrombotic properties, and it would be quite difficult to subject the PET to various treatments to impart biocompatibility, in particular, blood compatibility.

Balloon for blood vessel-dilating catheter


The present invention provides a positive locking confirmation mechanism for a battery contact of an electric vehicle. The positive locking confirmation mechanism uses a terminal bolt with an expansive tail section and judges whether the battery contact is in a positive locking state according to a voltage signal measured by a battery management unit. Before the battery contact is possibly not in the positive locking state, the system notifies the user to check and repair the possibly-loosened contact. Consequently, the problem of losing power or generating electric arc in the battery box will be avoided.

Generally, a battery pack of a large electric vehicle comprises several hundreds of batteries. These batteries are connected with each other in parallel or in series. However, if the battery contacts are not securely locked, the batteries of the battery pack are possibly loosened. Especially, when the electric vehicle is driven on a road with a poor condition, the vibration of electric vehicle may accelerate the problem of loosening the battery contacts. If the battery contacts are loosened or poorly contacted during the travelling process of the electric vehicle, the overall power system is possibly shut down or burnt out.
However, the conventional electrode connecting method cannot indicate whether the electrodes are certainly locked. If the battery pack is suffered from a poor contact problem, the worker cannot immediately realize the damaged site. Under this circumstance, the time period of checking the battery pack is largely increased. Moreover, since the electric vehicle is only powered by the battery pack, the reliability of the battery pack is an important factor influencing performance of the electric vehicle.

Positive locking confirmation mechanism for battery contact of electric vehicle


In a front part inside a seat cushion are arranged a catching member extending in a widthwise direction of the seat cushion and movable up and down, and inertial force transmission means for moving the catching member upward by the inertial force that acts on an inertial mass at the time of rapid deceleration. When a passenger sits on the seat cushion, the catching member moves down so as not to deteriorate the seat comfort, and at the time of rapid deceleration, the catching member moves up and stops the passenger's hips from moving forward. Thus it is reliably prevented that the passenger moves forward, without deteriorating the seat comfort, and the design is simple, lightweight, and low-cost.

Conventionally, seat belts are provided as means of preventing passengers from moving forward by the force of inertia when the car is suddenly decelerated. One problem, however, was that seat belts did not work effectively when the passengers' hips move forward as they sink into seat cushions.
To prevent passenger's hips from moving forward, it has been proposed to provide a cross member such as a pipe inside the seat cushion bridged across the width of the seat cushion in a position forward of the hips of the passenger in a normal seated position. With this approach, the cross member catches the passenger's hips, so that shock is absorbed by the deformation of the cross member and that the passenger's forward movement is restricted.
However, there is a problem that such a cross member in the front part of the seat cushion will make the seated passenger uncomfortable and deteriorate driving comfort, but on the other hand if the cross member is positioned lower enough so as not to affect seat comfort, then the effect of preventing the passenger from moving forward will not be achieved.
Another approach is proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-238297: Seat cushion lift-up means is provided inside in the front part of the seat cushion, and a movable member is provided, which moves with the hips of the passenger when the vehicle is suddenly decelerated, the movable member being linked to the seat cushion lift-up means so that the front end of the seat cushion is lifted up with the movement of the movable member. Yet another design is known, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-1136, wherein a cross member is arranged to be in a lower position in normal conditions, and when a collision is detected by a sensor or the like, a power generating device including gas generating means is activated so as to lift up the cross member through suitable means such as a link mechanism.
Further, the applicant of the present invention has previously proposed a design, as shown in the International Publication No. WO02/066285, wherein a catching part that extends to the left and right of the seat cushion is arranged inside the seat cushion such as to be movable up and down, with means of biasing the catching part upwards being provided, and a locking member is activated by inertia at the time of rapid deceleration so as to lock the catching part from moving down so that the passenger is stopped from moving forward by the catching member.
However, with the design shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-238297, the seat cushion lift-up means and movable member, as well as means of linking these, are required, because of which the structure is large, complex, and expensive. Another problem is that the movable member adversely affects the seat comfort.
With the design shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-1136, the mechanism for lifting up the cross member forcibly when necessary and its drive means are required, because of which the system is complex and expensive, and also heavy.
With the design shown in the International Publication No. WO02/066285, the structure is simple and the seat comfort when the passenger sits down is not bad; however, there is a possibility that, when the passenger's hips move forward in a front collision, the catching member may slip down due to a downward force component of the load applied to the catching member, because of which there is a reliability problem in the effect of preventing forward movement of the passenger.
Objects of the present invention are to solve the above-described problems in the conventional techniques and to provide a simple design, lightweight, and low-cost car seat which reliably restricts passenger's forward movement when the car is suddenly decelerated, without deteriorating seat comfort.


A system for converting potential energy into electric power from a mixture of gases, such as atmospheric air, including a particular lesser-density-gas, such as nitrogen, and a particular larger-density-gas, such as oxygen. The system includes a gas-separator at an upper-elevation; a gas-flow-conduit that has a gas-exit-port at a lesser-elevation, where the lesser-elevation is significantly lower than the upper-elevation; and an energy-converter positioned on the gas-flow-conduit. The gas-separator is coupled to the gas-exit-port via the gas-flow-conduit. The gas-separator separates the particular larger-density-gas from the gas mixture. The gas-flow-conduit conducts the separated particular larger-density-gas from the gas-separator via the gas-flow-conduit to the energy-converter; and the energy-converter generates electric power from the conducted separated particular larger-density-gas.

The invention generally pertains to energy conversion systems and methods and is primarily directed to converting potential energy from a mixture of gases into electric power, wherein the mixture of gases includes gases of different densities, such as oxygen and nitrogen, which is of a lesser density than oxygen. The mixture of gases may be atmospheric air.

Converting potential energy from a mixture of fluids into electric power


A pliable handle includes a core member, an outer sheath, and gel disposed between the core member and the outer sheath. There is an outer annular flange around its top. The outer sheath has an opening on its top and a closed bottom, an inner annular flange on its top; and the outer sheath is disposed about the core member. Below the inner annular flange of the outer sheath and the outer annular flange of the core member define the gap portion, which is filled with gel. There is an annular flange which corresponds with the annular groove on the core member below the inner annular flange of the outer sheath. The present pliable handle can be secured to walking sticks, golf clubs, ski poles, tennis rackets, battledores, and umbrellas.

Handles of hand-held devices, such as handles of walking sticks and umbrellas, generally include a core member having a insert bore on its top outer sheath disposed about the core member and the gel disposed between the core member and the outer sheath. The applied force causes the pliable handle to deform immediately; after the applied force is released, the deformation of the handle will remain for a period of time before the handle returns to its original shape until the movement of gel is finished. The pliable handle keeps deformation for a period of time after applied force is released, it is so-called memory effect that takes the fancy of consumers. When assembling the pliable handle, the gel must be injected through the injection bore into the gap between the core member and the outer sheath. Because the movement of the gel is too slow like oil, even a small gap would lead to the leak of the gel. When the pliable handle is gripped, the applied force causes the load movement of the gel. The gap between the core member and the outer sheath will easily become the portion through which the gel leaks. For preventing the leak of the gel, we must use more components to seal the both ends of the outer sheath. For example, in us patent-US 2004/0205938 A1 disclosed on 21, Oct., 2004 "PLIABLE HANDLE", FIG. 20 shows a pliable handle which is composed of six components after injecting the gel. as the appended FIG. 1 shows. But in this case, the cost is too expensive and it takes much time for assembling. For keeping components close to each other, we must machine the components exactly, so the cost is too much. The FIG. 18 of the patent illustrates the most simple pliable handle, with reference to appended FIG. 2, there is a bore for central rod on the top of the core member 1710, the outwards extending flange 1711 is on the top of the core member 1710, the gel injection bores 1712a 1712b is formed on the outwards extending flange 1711; the bottom portion 1713 of the core member 1710 forms a protuberance like mushroom. The outer sheath 1720 is like a straight tube that includes an open top portion 1721 and a closed bottom portion 1722. There is an inwards extending flange on the top portion 1721. The bottom portion 1713 of the core member 1710 is inserted through the opening 1723 of the outer sheath 1720 to the outer sheath 1720, disposing the outer sheath 1720 to the outwards extending flange 1711 and the bottom portion 1713 of the core member 1710. The bottom portion 1713 of the core member 1710 touches the bottom portion 1722 of the outer sheath 1720, the inwards extending flange of the top portion 1721 threadingly mate with the outwards extending flange 1711 of the core member 1710. There is a gap between the inner of the outer sheath 1720 and the central portion 1714 of the core member. At this point, using the 2 nozzles of the injector to stab the inwards extending flange of the top portion 1721 through the gel injection bores 1712a 1712b formed on the outwards extending flange 1711 and injecting the gel into said gap. Remove the 2 nozzles of the injector, screwing the outer screw 1733 of the central rod 1730 into the bore for central rod on the top of the core member 1710, making the outer shoulder 1732 of the outer screw 1733 press on the inwards extending flange of the top portion 1721 tightly, the inwards extending flange on the top portion 1721 is sealed between the distal end of the outer shoulder 1732 of the central rod 1730 and the proximal end of the outwards extending flange 1711. The structure of the pliable handle is simple, but there are some disadvantages on it as follow:
1, although using the thread outer shoulder to press on the outer sheath which is on the top of the core member, the outer shoulder will loose after using the handle for a long time, and it can not prevent gel-leaking.
2, the handle must be assembled primarily during the handle assembly process, and the gel is injected, then assembling the other components of the pliable handle at last. For example, the core member and the outer sheath are assembled primarily, and injecting the gel; fixing the central rod in the core member, its outer shoulder seals the outer sheath. Because of using the 2 nozzles of the injector to stab the inwards extending flange of the top portion through the gel injection bores formed on the outwards extending flange and injecting the gel into the gap, the operator must find the gel injection bores formed on the outwards extending flange carefully after assembling the outer sheath, and insert the 2 nozzles of the injector into the 2 gel injection bores, it takes much time, the process of injection is long; so the components can not be assembled immediately. The result is that the period of production is too long and the cost is too much.


An automatic ice maker adapted for use in a refrigerator includes an ice-making tray rotatable between an upright ice-making position and an inverted ice-discharging position by a motor. A container is disposed beneath the tray for receiving ice when the tray is in the inverted position. First and second switches are each moved between first and second states in response to rotation of the tray. The second switch can be moved to its second state in response to the container being full of ice. Whenever the refrigerator is started-up, e.g., after a power outage, a controller determines whether both of the switches are in their first states. If so, an ice making operation is performed. If not, the motor is actuated in a manner tending to rotate the tray to its upright position. When the tray reaches its upright position, a stop is contacted, whereupon a load is generated at the motor, causing the controller to stop the motor.

The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker and a position control method for an ice tray in the automatic ice maker, and more particularly, to an automatic ice maker and a position control method for an ice tray in the automatic ice maker, which can automatically control a position of the ice tray at the time of recovery from power failure.
A general automatic ice maker mounted in a freezing room of a refrigerator includes an ice tray for containing water to be made into ice, a water supply unit for supplying the water to the ice tray, an ice removal motor for inverting and re-righting the ice tray, and an ice container installed beneath the ice tray, for containing the ice. In such an automatic ice maker, water is supplied to the ice tray at the state where the ice tray is in the horizontal upright position, to then perform ice making. If the ice making is completed, the ice tray is inverted by the ice removal motor, to thereby displace the ice from the ice tray to the ice container. If the ice is separated from the ice tray, the ice tray is returned to the former horizontal position for ice making, whereupon water supply and ice making operations are resumed. A level detection switch is provided to detect as to whether the ice tray remains at an ice making horizontal position. Meanwhile, a full ice detection switch is operated by a full ice detection lever to recognize whether the ice container is full of ice. If a full ice state has been recognized, ice making is stopped.
In such a conventional automatic ice maker, when a refrigerator is initially installed, or is re-activated after it has been deactivated owing to the failure of power supply, it cannot be accurately judged as to whether or not the ice tray is in a horizontal position for making ice. For example, when the power failure occurs, the ice tray may be in an inverted position for removing the ice, but the level detection switch comes to recognize that the ice tray is in an upright position. If an ice making operation is then performed, water supplied to the ice tray is not contained in the ice tray but falls into the ice container to thereby spoil already-made ice.
To accurately position an ice tray at the time of power recover, a mechanism shown in FIG. 7 is employed in the technology disclosed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei4-124570. In this known art, a first marker 120 for indicating an ice making upright position and a second marker 121 for indicating an inverted position are provided on a rotational body 119 which rotates along with an ice tray 109. These two markers 120 and 121 are formed of a different length from each other. Also, a light emitting diode (LED) 123 and a photo transistor 124 opposing the LED 123 are provided as a detection means for detecting the position of the marker 120 or 121. Based on the output signal of the photo transistor 124, a position of the ice tray 109 is judged, to place the ice tray 109 in the ice making upright position. If power is supplied at the time of power recovery, the ice tray 109 is rotated in a predetermined direction, for example, in the direction opposite to an arrow shown in FIG. 7, and at the same time a time counting operation starts. The markers 120 and 121 detected during the rotational operation are distinguished via the counted duration time, to thereby determine a position of the corresponding ice tray 109 at the time of power failure. The ice tray 109 is then returned to the former (power-recovery) position or is remains in its current state according to the determination result, to thereby cause the ice tray 109 to be in an ice making upright position.
However, in the above prior art, since it is necessary to rotate the ice tray in order to determine its position when power is resumed, a comparatively complicate determination process is needed and much time is consumed for determining the position of the ice tray and positioning the ice tray. Also, additional elements such as a LED and a photo transistor are needed.

Ice maker having a position control for an ice-making tray upon recovery from a power outage


A process has been developed in which the contact area, between an overlying metal filled via structure, and an underlying metal interconnect structure, has been increased. The process features opening a via hole, in a dielectric layer, to an underlying metal interconnect structure, with the via hole being larger in width then the width of the underlying metal interconnect structure. Continued selective removal of the dielectric layer, in the via hole, results in exposure of the sides of the metal interconnect structure. Subsequent formation of an overlying metal filled via structure, in the via hole, results in an increase in contact area between the overlying metal filled via structure, and the narrow, metal interconnect structure.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods used to fabricate semiconductor devices, and more specifically to processes used to improve the electrical contact between metal filled vias and metal interconnect structures.
(2) Description of Prior Art
The semiconductor industry is continually striving to improve the performance of silicon devices and circuits, while still attempting to maintain, or decrease the manufacturing cost of silicon chips, comprised of these higher performing silicon devices and circuits. Micro-miniaturazation, or the ability of the semiconductor industry to create silicon devices with sub-micron features, has allowed the performance, as well as the cost, objectives to be met. Sub-micron device features result in performance improvements via decreases in parasitic capacitances, and resistances. In addition smaller device features allow the silicon chip size to be reduced, resulting in a greater number of silicon chips to be realized from a specific size substrate, thus reducing the manufacturing cost of a specific chip. The attainment of micro-miniaturazation has been highlighted by advances in specific semiconductor fabrication disciplines, such as photolithography, as well as reactive ion etching. The development of more sophisticated exposure cameras, as well as the use of more sensitive photoresist materials, have allowed sub-micron images in photoresist layers to be routinely achieved. In addition, advances in dry etching, or reactive ion etching, (RIE), have allowed the sub-micron images in photoresist layers to be successfully transferred to underlying materials, used for the fabrication of advanced silicon devices.
The use of sub-micron features, although allowing the performance and cost objectives of the semiconductor industry to be realized, does present specific fabrication problems, not encountered for the fabrication of silicon devices using less aggressive designs. For example conventional approaches restrict the size of a contact or via, so that it comfortably falls on an underlying metal structure. This fully landed contact, or via, is usually made smaller than the width of the underlying metal structure by the amount of photolithographic misalignment allowed in the process. To take advantage of the micro-miniaturazation breakthroughs, these contacts or vias are now created with sub-micron dimensions. This brings about the problem of filling sub-micron vias with metal. The use of chemically vapor deposited tungsten, to fill sub-micron vias, is being used for via fills, taking advantage of the ability of tungsten to sustain high current densities without risking electromigration failure. However the mechanism of filling narrow diameter holes with CVD metals, results in a seam or void, at the center of the metal fill. This seam or void, when subjected to subsequent process steps, such as dry etching, used to form a metal plug in the narrow diameter hole, can evolve into a defect that can result in topology problems for subsequent overlying metallization structures. Many solutions for the metal seam phenomena have been described. For example Cheffings, et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,550, describe a process for filling voids or seams, in tungsten filled contact holes, with silicon. Marangon, et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,861, describe a process for minimizing the seam, by using a novel etch back process, to create the tungsten plug, without subjecting the exposed seam to additional dry etching procedures.
The process described in this invention will use a different approach. This invention will show a method of maintaining packing densities by reducing the size of the underlying metal structure, while increasing the size of the overlying metal filled via. The amount of contact area between the overlying metal filled via, and the underlying metal structure, is increased by removal of some passivation insulator from the sides of the underlying metal structure, making these exposed sides available for contact from the subsequent overlying, metal filled via. This approach, of using wider metal filled vias, reduce the seam problem, encountered with narrower via counterparts.

Three dimensional contact or via structure with multiple sidewall contacts

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Analog filters may be conveniently implemented in MOS technology by the use of "transconductance cells". Each cell includes stages each having a pair of current paths, with each path comprising a current source and input transistor. The gain of each stage is set by a transistor connected across the current path, with the transconductance of this transistor being controlled by its gate voltage. In the inventive technique, a transconductance cell comprising two input stages utilizes inputs to each input stage that are in-phase rather than complementary, as in prior-art designs. The inputs to the second input stage are then each balanced (out of phase) with respect to the inputs to the first input stage. Higher linearity is obtained, with the common-mode signal being cancelled by the summation of currents supplied by the input stages to the common output stage. A biquadratic filter conveniently implements this technique, with other applications being possible.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transconductance cell having improved linearity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Transconductance cells have been used for various linear circuit applications known in the art. For example, a continuous-time integrating filter has been implemented with this technique; see J. M. Khoury "Design of a 15-MHz CMOS Continuous-Time Filter with On-Chip Tuning", IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 26, no. 12, pp. 1988-1997, December 1991. In particular, FIG. 5 of that article shows one implementation of a transconductance-capacitor integrator. A cell comprising a pair of fully-balanced transconductance input stages is illustrated herein in FIG. 1. In the first input stage (A), the input signals V.sub.AP and V.sub.AN are applied to the gates of transistors 107 and 109, respectively. The current sources 100 and 101 provide a relatively constant current (I) through transistors 107 and 109, respectively. The transistor 108, connected between the sources of transistors 107 and 109, operates in the resistive (i.e., "triode") region of its characteristic curve. The basic transconductance (g.sub.m) of this first input stage is set by the transconductance of transistor 108. In the fully-balanced structure, the resulting currents I.sub.P and I.sub. N supplied to the output stage 106 may be calculated from: EQU I.sub.P -I.sub.N =-g.sub.m .times.(V.sub.AP -V.sub.AN).
I.sub.P and I.sub.N consist of two parts from each input pair: From the input pair AP and AN, the current can be considered to be the bias current I with the current through transistor 108 being subtracted from the AP side and added to the AN side. The use of more than one such transconductance transistor is possible, as in the above-noted article.
The currents I.sub.P and I.sub.N are supplied to the output stage 106, comprising current sources 104 and 105, and transistors 113 . . . 116 in the illustrative case. The output stage (106) is biased with voltages BN1 and BN2. The output signals V.sub.ON and V.sub.OP are produced by the output stage. In operation, it can be seen that a more positive voltage on the gate of transistor 107 (more positive V.sub.AP) causes I.sub.P to decrease and I.sub.N to increase, so that V.sub.OP increases and V.sub.ON decreases. A more positive V.sub.AN causes V.sub.OP to decrease and V.sub.ON to increase. A similar effect occurs with changes in V.sub.BP and V.sub.BN applied to the second input stage (B), comprising current sources 102 and 103 and transistors 110, 111 and 112. In the embodiment shown, the input stages are implemented with p-channel transistors, and the output stage with n-channel transistors. However, other combinations of transistor types are possible, with corresponding changes to the output voltages as a function of the input voltages.
In typical applications, the signals V.sub.AP and V.sub.AN may be considered the input signals for the circuit of FIG. 1, which typically implements an integrator when coupled to capacitors 23 and 24 in FIG. 2. The signals BP and BN are the feedback signals, which are out-of-phase with respect to the AP and AN signals, respectively, in the filter's pass band. If the transconductances of the two input stages are equal, then V.sub.AP and V.sub.BN are approximately the same amplitude and phase. Similarly, V.sub.AN and V.sub.BP are approximately the same amplitude and phase. For example, referring to FIG. 2, a prior-art "biquadratic" low-pass filter is illustrated, wherein each of the filter cells 20 and 21 comprise the circuitry shown in FIG. 1. That is, each cell includes first and second transconductance input stages and an output stage. In addition, capacitors 22, 23, 24 and 25 provide for integration in the illustrative case of a low-pass filter. Note that the input signal V.sub.in is supplied to the inputs AP and AN of cell 20. Similarly, the outputs OP and ON of cell 20 are supplied to the AP and AN inputs of cell 21. The BP inputs of both cells 20 and 21 are derived from the ON output of cell 21, which is out of phase with respect to the AP inputs in the passband of the filter. The BN inputs of both cells 20 and 21 are derived from the OP output of cell 21, which is out of phase with respect to the BP inputs in the passband of the filter. Hence, the A inputs in both cells 20 and 21 are approximately balanced, and out of phase with the B inputs.
For low distortion, the circuits of FIGS. 1 and 2 require that the signal input voltage to each cell (V.sub.AP -V.sub.AN) be less than a given value. On the other hand, the signal voltage should be sufficiently high to give adequate signal-to-noise performance. It is desirable in most cases to extend the difference between the minimum and maximum acceptable signal levels; that is, to extend the dynamic range of the circuit. This may be accomplished by extending the linearity of the circuit response so as to cover a wider signal range.

Transconductance cell with improved linearity


The present invention provides systems and methods for providing a user with the ability to submit a wager to a fixed-odds book or a pari-mutuel pool using an interactive wagering application. A conditional wagering option is provided. When the user selects a conditional wagering option, the interactive wagering application may automatically submit the wager to an alternative wager option (e.g., a fixed-odds book or a pari-mutuel pool) if the wager is rejected by the user's selected wager option. The interactive wagering application may notify the user of the status of the submitted wager.

This invention relates to interactive wagering systems and methods for providing fixed-odds and pari-mutuel wagering. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods for providing conditional fixed-odds and pari-mutuel wagering that enable wagers to be placed automatically in either a fixed-odds book or a pari-mutuel pool.
Wagering on sporting events such as horse, dog, and harness racing is a popular leisure activity. Generally, there are two means to conduct wagering fixed-odds bookmaking and pooling (i.e. any form of pari-mutuel wagering). The major difference is that the bookmaker effectively competes with the player by negotiating a price and reaching an agreement that fixes the odds for a particular bet (hence, "fixed odds") while balancing an internal book that attempts to guarantee himself a profit but carries inevitable risk. In pari-mutuel wagering, by contrast, players essentially compete against the other players and the odds are adjusted accordingly until the betting is closed.
Typically, bookmakers accept bets that do not introduce an unreasonable level of risk for them up until the start of the race or even slightly thereafter. However, bookmakers have difficulty managing large transactions late in the process because the bets can upset their book or introduce an unreasonable level of risk for them. This can cause a bookmaker to reject such a bet. Bookmakers can shut their book on a particular race or simply refuse a specific bet for any reason.
In contrast, regulated pools must accept all bets up until a closing time (e.g., post time, two minutes prior to the start of the race, etc.). Typically, the closing time of a regulated pool is at some time prior to the start of the race. Therefore, a player can be closed out of a regulated pool prior to the start of a race.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide improved interactive wagering systems and methods.
It is a further object of the invention to provide the user with the ability to place a wager in a fixed-odds book or a pari-mutuel pool.
It is a further object of the invention to provide conditional fixed-odds and pari-mutuel wagering.

Systems and methods for providing fixed-odds and pari-mutuel wagering


The identification of pneumatic tires by electromagnetic coupling with a nsponder embedded in the thickness of the pneumatic tire is made possible by a suitable interrogation antenna so that, regardless of the position of the transponder in the pneumatic tire, a position which is unknown, the coupling is always of the same quality. Such an antenna may take the form of a figure eight or of a closed torus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system for the identification of pneumatic tires which have an electronic tag embedded in their thickness. More particularly, it relates to the structure of antennas adapted for communication in such systems.
2. Discussion of the Background
It has been sought for a very long time to incorporate, in a pneumatic tire, transponders making identification possible by electromagnetic signals, notably to be able to control the flow during the production of pneumatic tires. One of the problems encountered in incorporating transponders in a pneumatic tire is that the orientation of the transponder with respect to the interrogation station, and more particularly with respect to the antenna used for the interrogation, generally is not known. Now, unless the orientation of the antenna corresponds to the orientation of the antenna of the transponder, the read or write distance is very severely reduced. If the antenna and transponder are perpendicular with respect to one another, then communication is not even possible.
The available solutions in the prior art for solving this problem are essentially of three different types. First of all, it has been proposed to scan the pneumatic tire containing the transponder with an inspection antenna to try all possibilities of relative position and orientation between the inspection antenna and the antenna of the transponder incorporated in the pneumatic tire until a signal is detected. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,160,865 proposes a communication device whose antenna rotates.
It can also be conceived to visually locate, on the surface of the pneumatic tire, the position and orientation of the transponder it contains. This introduces an additional constraint during the production of the pneumatic tire, and this constraint is generally unacceptable.
Finally, it can be conceived to solve this problem by multiplying the interrogation antennas so as to arrange them according to all possible orientations so that at least one of them is able to communicate with the antenna of the transponder. This solution not only multiplies the cost of the interrogation device, but further involves specific technical difficulties that will be explained below.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the problem posed by communication with a transponder incorporated in a pneumatic tire is illustrated. In FIG. 1, a pneumatic tire 1 comprises a transponder with its antenna 2 implanted in the sidewall or in the bead thereof. Generally, the transponder 2 is implanted in the upper part of the bead, more specifically in the bead filler. Pneumatic tire 1, as it appears in FIG. 1, is placed flat on a conveyor belt and travels in direction P toward a communication antenna 3. The antenna 3 is placed flat under the conveyor belt or on it. Basically, antenna 3 forms a plane parallel to the pneumatic tire 1. This antenna 3 consists of numerous turns 30 wound on a support made of nonmagnetic material, each turn 30 comprising the rectangle that appears in FIGS. 1 and 2. If current is fed to such a winding, a magnetic flux .phi.3 is generated whose orientation is perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1, and whose direction depends on the direction of the applied current. The magnetic axis of such a winding is defined as being the orientation of the resulting flux (south-north) that such a winding would develop if it were fed direct current.
Transponder with its antenna 2 is implanted in the pneumatic tire at a location that is unknown. All the possible positions are symbolized in FIG. 1 by positions a1, b1, c1, . . . , h1. The transponder comprises a communication antenna 2 made by winding a large number of turns on a small, elongated, cylindrical ferrite core and which can be schematically viewed on the drawings. The magnetic axis (according to the conventional definition given above) of such an antenna 2 is formed in the plane of FIG. 1, along the major axis of the oval diagramming the position of the transponder in FIG. 1. If, in the pneumatic tire, the azimuth position of the transponder (hence of its antenna 2) is unknown, it is known, on the other hand, that it is located at the level of the bead filler, with its antenna 2 oriented as indicated above. In other words, only a single degree of freedom to characterize the implantation of the antenna 2 of the transponder remains unknown.
If the transponder occupies position b1 or f1, then the coupling between the antenna 2 and antenna 3 is never possible regardless of the progress of the pneumatic tire toward antenna 3. The double arrows seen on antenna 3 in FIG. 1 represent the flux surrounding the turns of the winding in the immediate vicinity of these turns 30. This is the orientation that would be assumed by the needle of a compass placed a few centimeters above antenna 3, i.e., about at the level at which the sidewall of the pneumatic tire travels. It is understood that, in this embodiment of the prior art, the lines of flux will always be perpendicular to the magnetic axis of the antenna 2 of the transponder if the latter occupies position b1 or f1, and thus coupling is not possible with antenna 3.
If, on the other hand, the transponder occupies position a1, then when the pneumatic tire is just above antenna 3, coupling is possible with position a1 indicated on antenna 3. The same reasoning leads to the observation that coupling will be possible if the transponder occupies positions c1, e1 or g1.
If the transponder occupies positions h1 or d1, then, with antenna 3 as it appears in FIG. 1, coupling is random or more difficult because the flux emanating from the antenna of the transponder is never aligned with the direction of maximum sensitivity of antenna 3, as is shown by the double arrows on antenna 3 in FIG. 1. On the other hand, if the same antenna 3 occupied the entire width of the belt, and more specifically if its width were at least equal to the diameter of the implantation of the transponder 2 in the pneumatic tire 1, then communication would be possible since the flux surrounding transverse turns 30 of antenna 3 would be aligned with the magnetic axis of the antenna 2 of the transponder.
FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of the same antenna 3 in which magnetic axis .phi.3 has been represented in the form of an arrow with a solid line, and the lines of flux surrounding the turns have been represented in the form of broken lines. Also shown in FIG. 2 is the arrangement of each turn 30 with respect to the rectangular frame supporting them.
In summary, it is seen that the reading or detecting of the transponder will always be possible if the transponder occupies positions near positions a1, c1, g1 or e1 (50% probability), that it will always be impossible if the transponder occupies positions such as b1 and f1 (25% probability) and that the reading can be random for positions h1 and d1 (25% probability), as a function of the exact position of the pneumatic tire 1 on the conveyor belt and of the position and the size of the antenna 3 with respect to this conveyor belt.

Antenna structure for communicating with an electronic tag implanted in a pneumatic tire

Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie


A device for monitoring a distance between a vehicle and object, including distance sensors mounted in the front and/or rear vehicle region(s), an electronic unit connected thereto, and a display device for visually and/or acoustically displaying distances. The electronic unit generating a full warning signal even prior to reaching the predefined minimum limiting value for an ascertained distance at an established first warning distance value which is greater than the minimum limiting value of a first sensor, if a distance, which is smaller than a first limiting value, is ascertained by a direct echo of the first sensor, the first limiting value being greater than the minimum limiting value of the first sensor, and if a distance, which is greater than a second limiting value, is ascertained by a direct echo of the second sensor, the second limiting value being greater than the minimum limiting value of the second sensor.

Devices for monitoring a distance between a vehicle and an object are known from a multitude of different specific embodiments.
One specific embodiment of a monitoring device includes determining a distance between a vehicle and an object based on ultrasound sensors. For a measurement, multiple measuring sensors for transmitting and receiving transmitting pulses may be positioned in the front and/or the rear region(s) of a vehicle. Using the received pulses, an electronic unit calculates a distance to the closest obstacle and generates a full warning signal, e.g., a continuous tone, if this distance is smaller than a predefined minimum limiting value.
Sensors transmit and receive signals within a so-called measuring cone, whereby a monitored region at the vehicle is defined by the configuration of the sensors in the vehicle contour of the front and the rear regions, as well as the side zones of a vehicle.

Device for monitoring a distance between a vehicle and an object


A method of measuring the capacitance of a capacitive component (21), whereby a digital bridge with two measuring branches generates a first signal (B1) defined by a train of measuring pulses (M) having a frequency (f1) related to the unknown capacitance being measured, and a second signal (B2) defined by a train of reference pulses (L) having a frequency (f2) related to a reference capacitance (CREF) of known value. The time difference (ΔT) between the times (T1, T2) taken by the two measuring branches of the digital bridge to generate an equal number of pulses (Th1, Th2) is calculated. The capacitance difference (ΔC) between the unknown capacitance and the reference capacitance (CREF) is determined as a function of the time difference (ΔT). The unknown capacitance of the capacitive component (21) is calculated on the basis of the reference capacitance (CREF) and the capacitance difference (ΔC).

The present invention relates to a method and device for measuring the capacitance of a capacitive component.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and device for accurately determining the capacitance of a capacitive component varying as a function of a physical quantity, such as the amount of liquid in a vessel; to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
As is known, some electronic devices currently used to determine the amount of liquid in a vessel or the pressing of a key employ a capacitive component varying in capacitance as a function of the quantity to be determined; and a measuring device connected to the capacitive component to measure its capacitance and provide a quantitative indication of the physical quantity causing the variation in capacitance.
Some measuring devices used for the above purposes are of digital circuit architecture, wherein a multivibrator stage is connected to the capacitive component to oscillate and generate a train of pulses frequency-related to the capacitance of the capacitive component. The multivibrator stage is also connected to a counter stage, which counts the pulses generated by the multivibrator stage and supplies an interrupt signal when the pulse count, as of a start instant in which a reset signal is received, reaches a predetermined count threshold.
The reset signal and interrupt signal are generated/received by a microprocessor with an internal clock for measuring the time interval between the instant the reset signal is generated and the instant the interrupt signal is received, and on the basis of which the capacitance of the capacitive component is determined.
By way of a non-limiting example, FIG. 1 shows a measuring device 1 of digital architecture as described above, and for measuring the capacitance of a capacitive component 4 defined, for example, by a capacitor. The capacitor comprises a first plate, and a second plate polarized to a ground potential VGND; and the first and second plate respectively define a measuring electrode 4a and a reference electrode 4b of measuring device 1, which are typically located in a vessel to determine a liquid level.
More specifically, measuring device 1 substantially comprises a microprocessor processing unit 2, which generates a reset signal R synchronized with the instant an internal clock 2a is activated, and which receives an interrupt signal I to stop the clock; and a pulse generating circuit 3, in turn comprising a multivibrator stage 5 and a counter stage 6.
More specifically, multivibrator stage 5 has a terminal 5a receiving reset signal R; a terminal 5b connected to measuring electrode 4a; a terminal 5c connected to reference electrode 4b; and an output 5d which generates a switching signal B defined by a train of rectangular pulses D frequency-related to the capacitance of capacitive component 4, as shown in FIG. 2.
More specifically, multivibrator stage 5 is typically defined by a Schmitt trigger, and counter stage 6 has a terminal 6a which receives reset signal R to start the count of pulses D; a terminal 6b which receives the train of pulses D; and a terminal 6c which generates interrupt signal I when the number of pulses D reaches a predetermined trigger threshold Th.
With reference to FIG. 2, the capacitance of capacitor 4 is measured by measuring device 1 at predetermined time intervals TI, each started by the microprocessor generating reset signal R.
During each time interval TI, microprocessor 2 activates the clock and, at the same time, supplies reset signal R to multivibrator stage 5 and counter stage 6.
More specifically, reset signal R is received as a trigger pulse by multivibrator stage 5, which switches from a rest condition to an oscillating condition (point P in FIG. 2) in which multivibrator stage 5 generates pulses D with a frequency proportional to the capacitance of capacitive component 4.
Reset signal R also starts the count of pulses D by counter stage 6.
As long as the pulse D count is below predetermined trigger threshold Th, interrupt signal I switches to a first, e.g. high, logic level. Conversely, when the pulse D count equals predetermined trigger threshold Th (point E in FIG. 2), interrupt signal I switches to a second—in this case, low—logic level to stop the pulse count. At this point, microprocessor 2 determines the time interval TA between the start and end of the pulse D count, and accordingly calculates the capacitance value.

Method and device for measuring the capacitance of a capacitive component

Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.


A method and a system of using a gaming network having a server in communication with a plurality of gaming terminals to share gaming applications directly between selected gaming terminals using a peer-to-peer type communications architecture. The method and system are a combination of hardware and software, that controls the initiation of a shared game, determines the gaming terminals eligible to participate in the game, accepts or rejects their participation, and subsequently establishes virtual communication network directly between participating gaming terminals. The virtual communication network is established allow a gaming terminal to act as a server of the shared application to all other participating gaming terminals. Once the application has been run to completion, the server terminates the session and returns each gaming terminal back to its normal operating mode.

Gambling has become an increasingly important and popular form of entertainment. Particularly important to the gaming industry are electronic gaming terminals that can provide a wide variety of entertainment formats to individual players. Electronic gaming terminals may, for example, include reel slot machines, video poker machines, and video bingo machines. Because such gaming terminals are an important source of income for the gaming industry, casinos continually search for new ways to improve the profitability of their gaming machines by increasing functional capabilities. This includes improving their entertainment value by providing more sophisticated games, visual/audio displays, and user-friendly interfaces. It also includes better gaming terminal security, player tracking data for customizing marketing strategies, and more sophisticated financial and accounting reports.
Originally gaming machines were provided as stand alone devices that operated independently. Today, most gaming machines are in serial communication with at least one computer that provides serial polling of the gaming machines in a master-slave communication protocol to obtain gaming terminal data. Typically, each gaming function is performed by a separate host computer, which operates independently of any other host computers connected to the gaming machines. For example, an accounting computer, a player tracking computer, and a progressive game computer may all operate independently to perform a specific function.
Although these gaming terminals are connected to a central host computer, a gaming terminal is unable to share a wagering game experience with any other gaming terminal. This precludes any type of competitive or collaborative gaming, and any other type of shared game interaction with another player. These serial-based systems have limited communication capabilities. To support these new gaming wagering methods effectively and adequately, new types of networked systems are needed to support competitive and collaborative types of wagering games, allowing players to share the same gaming experience.
Some manufacturers have proposed developing a network of gaming terminals controlled by a server to provide gaming applications to each individual gaming terminal. In these systems, the distributed application server determines the game outcome and delivers the results of the game to the gaming terminal. This type of gaming system is termed central determination. The gaming terminals simply function as presentation devices for the distributed application server. This configuration presents problems on two regulatory fronts.
First, central determination of a game outcome is illegal and not allowed in many jurisdictions. Second, even if the jurisdictions do allow the central determination of game outcomes, such a server would have to be licensed as a gaming device in that jurisdiction. To license a server requires specialized testing in individual jurisdictions and represents another hurdle for gaming manufacturers to overcome.
In addition, using a central server for serving gaming applications has certain technological problems. First, the communication traffic in such a centralized system is extremely heavy. All game play information must be first communicated to the server and then relayed to those gaming terminals on which a gaming application is being shared. The long communication path can create latency problems that prevent the game from playing sufficiently quickly. In addition, timing becomes much more critical for competitive and collaborative gaming where a player may be given a limited time to respond to the game action.
An additional problem with centrally served games is that players may want to play individual games, rather than participating in a shared gaming experience. A central server could potentially be heavily burdened supporting many individual gaming terminals. Such a system is susceptible to a single failure with the potential for incapacitating large numbers of gaming terminals on the network.
To overcome these problems, a new gaming terminal network is required that allows players at different terminals to participate in a shared gaming experience with other players.

Peer-to-peer distributed gaming application network


A crosslinkable acrylic rubber composition exhibiting superior balance between the storage stability and cure rate, and having only minimal risk of corroding metals or being contaminated by metals. The cured products made from the composition have excellent tensile strength, permanent compression set, and water resistance. The composition which comprises (1) a halogen-containing acrylic rubber, (2) a triazine thiol compound, (3) a dithiocarbamine acid derivative or a thiuram sulfide compound, or both, (4) a hydrotalcite compound or an organotin compound, or both, (5) an aromatic carboxylic acid compound or an acid anhydride thereof, or both, (6) a white filler with a pH of 2-10, and (7) a silane coupling agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a crosslinkable acrylic rubber composition exhibiting a superior balance between the storage stability and cure rate, and having only minimal risk of corroding metals or being contaminated by metals.
2. Description of the Background Art
Acrylic rubber is an elastomer (co)polymer containing alkyl acrylate and/or alkoxyalkyl acrylate as principal components. The acrylic rubber has excellent oil resistance, heat resistance, weather resistance, ozone-proof properties, and permanent compression set, and the like. Rubber compositions containing this rubber have conventionally been used as sealing materials such as packing and gasket, and various molded articles.
Such an acrylic rubber possesses cure sites such as, for example, halogen-type cure sites, epoxy-type cure sites, and diene-type cure sites. An appropriate crosslinking agent or crosslinking accelerator corresponding to the type of cure site is added when the rubber composition is prepared.
Particularly, as crosslinking agents for a halogen-containing acrylic rubber, a composition comprising a fatty acid metal soap and sulfur or a sulfur donor, a composition comprising a triazine derivative and a dithiocarbamine acid derivative, and the like are known. Of these, the crosslinking agent comprising a fatty acid metal soap is inferior in the rate of crosslinking, permanent compression set, and water resistance; the crosslinking agent containing triazine derivative also exhibits only an insufficient rate of crosslinking, anti-scorching properties, and storage stability. Moreover, metal corrosion and metal contamination during crosslinking are problems with the crosslinking agent containing triazine derivative.
To solve these problems, Japanese Patent Publication No. 39181/1980, for example, proposed a composition comprising 1 an alkali metal salt of an organic carboxylic acid, 2 sulfur or a sulfur donor, and 3 an urea compound, a thiourea compound, an imidazoline compound, or an amino acid compound. This crosslinking agent, however, exhibits only a retarded rate of crosslinking and involves permanent compression set.
There is also some prior art disclosing triazine derivative-containing crosslinking agents. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 180539/1983 discloses a crosslinking agent which comprises 1 trithiocyanuric acid and 2 an alkali metal salt organic carboxylic acid. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 320456/1993 discloses a composition containing 1 triazine thiol compound, 2 a quaternary ammonium salt, and 3 an alkali metal salt of carboxylic acid, and a composition containing a a reaction product of a triazine thiol compound and a quaternary ammonium salt. These crosslinking agents, however, are also inadequate in respect of storage stability, anti-scorching properties, rate of crosslinking, and the like. A method for improving anti-scorching properties of a halogen-containing rubber composition which comprises a triazine thrithiol crosslinking agent by adding a reinforcer and/or a filler with a pH of about 2-7 has been disclosed by Japanese Patent Publication No. 82413/1993. This composition cannot exhibit a satisfactory rate of crosslinking.
In addition, with regard to prevention of metal corrosion during cross-linking, a method of adding a hydrotalcite to a halogen-containing acrylic rubber (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 150409/1990) and a method of adding a silica-based reinforcing filler and a hydrotalcite to a halogen containing acrylic rubber (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 228746/1995) have been proposed. These rubber compositions, however, are also inadequate in respect of the balance between the storage stability and the rate of crosslinking.
Any conventional halogen-containing acrylic rubber compositions thus have not reached a satisfactory level in terms of well balanced characteristics such as storage stability, rate of crosslinking, permanent compression set, metal corrosion, metal contamination, and the like.
The present invention has been achieved in view of these problems in the conventional technology and has an object of providing a crosslinkable halogen-containing acrylic rubber composition exhibiting superior balance between the storage stability and rate of crosslinking, free from the risks of metal corrosion and metal contamination, and exhibiting superior tensile strength, permanent compression set, water resistance, and the like.


A hydroconversion process comprises contacting a feedstock comprising renewable materials under hydroprocessing conditions with a promoted catalyst selected from a self-supported catalyst, a supported catalyst and combinations thereof, wherein the reaction conditions can be tailored to directly convert the renewable feedstock to the desired product(s) including fatty alcohols, esters, normal paraffins, or combinations thereof. The catalyst comprising at least a Group VIB metal selected from molybdenum and tungsten, a Group VIII metal selected from cobalt and nickel to convert the feedstock into any of fatty alcohols, esters, and normal paraffins. In some embodiments, the process further comprising additional steps to generate various desirable products, including α-olefins (or PAO, by dehydrating the fatty alcohol products), lubricants and bright stocks (from the oligomerizing of the PAO), and Group 3 lubricants (from co-oligomerizing of the PAO with some short chain olefins).

Fossil fuels are a finite, non-renewable resource formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years. However, as the world's petroleum resources are depleting coupled with its ever-increasing prices, many industries worldwide have been looking into renewable/sustainable raw materials ("bio-resources") to replace petroleum-based materials in their manufacturing processes.
Industrial oleochemicals are useful in the production of surfactants, lubricants, fuels, plastics, and the like. Oleochemicals include, but are not limited to, fatty alcohols, esters and paraffins. Providing efficient processes for directly converting renewable materials into such products would be highly desirable.
A prior art approach to convert bio-resources such as lipids (e.g., vegetable oil, animal fat, etc.) to high value products such as jet/diesel fuels (paraffins) is via alkali catalyzed reaction in the presence of an alcohol, generating esters such as long chain alkyl esters or fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). Hydroprocessing is another approach to covert bio-resources to useful products. However, in US Patent Publication No. 2009/0166256, it is disclosed that with biocomponent feedstocks, e.g., vegetable oils and animal fats which typically contain triglycerides and fatty acids, the large triglyceride and fatty acid molecules in biocomponent feedstocks may competitively adsorb on and block active sites of hydrotreating catalysts. There is a need for catalysts having the appropriate morphology, structure, and optimum catalytic activity for high yield conversion of renewable feedstock into high value products.
Base oils are commonly used for the production of process oils, white oils, metal working oils, and lubricants for use in automotives, industrial applications, and the like. It is increasingly difficult to produce lubricants from conventional mineral oils to meet certain standards in the automotive industry. There is a need for an improved process to make lubricants and bright stocks with renewable feedstock as the originating source.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system and method for maintaining resiliency of subscriptions to an event server includes receiving a subscription request to establish a subscription to receive event state information of an event source, a primary event server providing the event state information. The event state information is received from the primary event server in accordance with the subscription request. The primary event server provides the event state information to an event consumer. It is determined whether the primary event server fails during the subscription.

System users interact and communicate using various types of network devices such as desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants, desktop phones, cell phones, and other devices. Systems and methods have been developed to determine whether certain system users are connected to a network and available for communication through one or more of those network devices.
A consumer establishes a subscription with an event server to receive the status of a source. When the source changes its status, a notification is sent to the consumer. In conventional systems, failure of the event server can cause the loss of many subscriptions. Consequently, a restart problem occurs in the system when users attempt to re-establish the subscription. Additionally, failure of the event server results in the loss of notifications during the time the user attempts to re-establish the subscription.

System and method for maintaining resiliency of subscriptions to an event server


For use in an x86-compatible processor capable of executing MMX.TM. instructions calling for partitioned data to be shifted or routed, an integrated routing and shifting circuit, a method of operation and a computer system containing the same. In one embodiment, the circuit includes: (1) a lower shifter that receives partitioned data therein and shifts at least a first portion of the partitioned data as a function of a received control signal and (2) an upper shifter/router, coupled to the lower shifter and having partitioned input lines and partitioned output lines, that receives the partitioned data from the lower shifter into the source register and selectively shifts or routes at least a second portion of the partitioned data as a function of the received control signal while transferring the partitioned data from the partitioned input lines to the partitioned output lines.

The ever-growing requirement for high performance computers demands that state-of-the-art microprocessors execute instructions in the minimum amount of time. Over the years, efforts to increase microprocessor speeds have followed different approaches. One approach is to increase the speed of the clock that drives the processor. As the clock rate increases, however, the processor's power consumption and temperature also increase. Increased power consumption increases electrical costs and depletes batteries in portable computers more rapidly, while high circuit temperatures may damage the processor. Furthermore, processor clock speed may not increase beyond a threshold physical speed at which signals may traverse the processor. Simply stated, there is a practical maximum to the clock speed that is acceptable to conventional processors.
An alternate approach to improving processor speeds is to reduce the number of clock cycles required to perform a given instruction. Under this approach, instructions will execute faster and overall processor "throughput" will thereby increase, even if the clock speed remains the same. One technique for increasing processor throughput is pipelining, which calls for the processor to be divided into separate processing stages (collectively termed a "pipeline"). Instructions are processed in an "assembly line" fashion in the processing stages. Each processing stage is optimized to perform a particular processing function, thereby causing the processor as a whole to become faster. "Superpipelining" extends the pipelining concept further by allowing the simultaneous processing of multiple instructions in the pipeline. Consider, for example, a processor in which each instruction executes in six stages, each stage requiring a single clock cycle to perform its function. Six separate instructions can be processed simultaneously in the pipeline, with the processing of one instruction completed during each clock cycle. Therefore, the instruction throughput of an N stage pipelined architecture is, in theory, N times greater than the throughput of a non-pipelined architecture capable of completing only one instruction every N clock cycles.
Another technique for increasing overall processor speed is "superscalar" processing. Superscalar processing calls for multiple instructions to be processed per clock cycle. Assuming that instructions are independent of one another (i.e., the execution of an instruction does not depend upon the execution of any other instruction), processor throughput is increased in proportion to the number of instructions processed per clock cycle ("degree of scalability"). If, for example, a particular processor architecture is superscalar to degree three (i.e., three instructions are processed during each clock cycle), the instruction throughput of the processor is theoretically tripled.
Processor speed may also be increased by implementing instructions that are tailored to specific tasks. For example, MMX.TM. instructions (MMX.TM. is a trademark of Intel Corporation) are used in high performance processors to change individual bytes of data within words (16 bits), double words (32 bits) and quad words (64 bits). Previously, reading and changing an individual byte within a larger group of bytes required masking out and shifting the other bytes. This required multiple processor instructions and necessarily slowed down the processor throughput. While MMX.TM. instructions address this problem by allowing individual bytes to be modified in a single instruction, there is still much room for improvement. It would be advantageous to be able to shift and reorder data by the byte, by the word, by the double word and by the quad word. Additionally, it would be advantageous to implement such new processor functions in a way that uses (or reuses) existing processor circuitry, thereby minimizing redesign and transistor count.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved instruction set that increases overall microprocessor throughput. More particularly, there is a need in the art for improved microprocessors that can route and shift data in bytes (8 bits), words (16 bits), double words (32 bits) and quad words (64 bits). There is a still further need in the art for improved microprocessors that implement such routing and shifting functions by reusing existing microprocessor circuitry.

Integrated routing and shifting circuit and method of operation


The invention provides a method of laundering fabric which uses a pourable liquid detergent composition comprising 10-40% wt of surfactant, essentially consisting of nonionic and/or anionic surfactant (typically less than 90% wt LAS and at least 10% wt of nonionic surfactant) in which 10-40% wt of surfactant preferably passes the Calcium Tolerance Test described in the patent. The composition comprises no more than 15% wt of soap, (present as a minority in wt % terms of the total surfactant). In the method, the composition is diluted by a factor of greater than 500 to obtain a wash liquor which comprises 0.8-0.05 g/l of surfactant, and, the wash liquor is contacted with fabrics. The composition may further comprise one or more of and preferably combinations of lipase, polyethyleneimine, a blue violet dye, preferably with an optical adsorption peak in the range 540-600 nm, a fluorescer, a dye transfer inhibition polymer, a polycarboxylate anti-redeposition agent, a soil release polymer and a perfume (preferably encapsulated).

Isotropic liquid detergents for use in laundry comprise varying concentration levels of surfactant. 10 to 15% wt is commonplace in Portugal and Spain, 18 to 27% wt typical in the Benelux countries, Germany and Italy, while levels of 35 to 40% wt surfactant have been used in the UK and France.
While moderately concentrated detergent compositions for laundry use have been known from the literature and available in the marketplace for some time, there has been a recent trend towards more concentrated liquid products and a "three-times concentrate" (Persil™ "Small and Mighty") was launched, in the UK. The dosage instructions for this product suggest that 35 ml of the composition should be used for a normal product load. With less concentrated products volume dosages are typically higher, so as to reach the same in-wash concentrations of non-soap surfactant.
Reasons for this trend towards concentrated products have included a desire to make more environmentally friendly products, which use less packaging, require fewer chemicals for their manufacture and require less energy to manufacture and transport them. Concentrated products also offer the advantages of taking up less shelf and storage space. Concentrated products deliver the same level of surfactant into the wash liquor from a smaller volume of product, and they are generally formulated by taking water out.
However, there are limits to the extent to the benefits which can be obtained by simply concentrating products. Particular problems occur with dispensing and delivery of products. For example, at particularly high concentrations liquid products may exhibit unacceptable or unstable viscosities and solid products may exhibit hydroscopicity and poor flow or caking. These known disadvantages, such as maintenance of product stability, pourability and product appearance have lead to a number of proposals.
A "four times" concentrate has been launched in Australia under the brand name "Orange power" and is described as "a 4× concentrate enzyme liquid detergent". Its dosage recommendation is 25 ml (a capful) for top loading washing machines and ¾ of a cap for front loaders.
Unit dosage has been suggested to overcome some of the known problems but this can lead to dissolution problems. Moreover, rising cost of surfactants, especially those from oil-based materials has led to pressures to remove surfactant as well.
WO 2004/074419 (Novozyme) suggests she replacement of part of the surfactant, builder, bleach, and fillers in a detergent with enzymes. This is said to result in a significant reduction of the volume and weight of the detergent necessary for one wash. After partial replacement by enzymes, levels of surfactant of less than 30 wt % preferably 4 to 20 wt %, more preferably 5 to 15 wt % are disclosed. Any soil suspending polymer is said to foe reduced to 0 to 6 wt % after it too is partially or fully replaced by enzymes. Lipase is used to boost oily soil detergency. In the examples in-wash non-soap surfactant levels as low as 0.18 g/L are disclosed. The drawback with the approach suggested in this document is that it is too dependent on enzymes which are expensive and are sensitive to storage and use conditions. Furthermore the stains selected to exemplify cleaning are apparently chosen to be responsive to enzymes and consequently do not demonstrate the solution to the more realistic problem of detergency against everyday dirt and stains, such as clay.
WO 2006/113314 (P&G) discloses a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising:    (a) from about 5 to about 20000 LU/g of a "first wash" lipase, which is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has at least 90% identity with the wild-type lipase derived from Humicola lanuginosa strain DSM 4109, and,    (b) from about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt % by weight of the composition of a modified polyethyleneimine polymer which comprises a polyethyleneimine backbone of about 300 to about 10000 weight average molecular weight; and    (c) the balance of the composition comprising a liquid carrier.
This patent publication states that alkyl ethoxy sulfate surfactant may be present in the composition from about 5% to about 30%; or from about 7% to 16% by weight of the composition. Additional surfactants include up to 7% of nonionic and/or anionic co-surfactants. Aqueous washing solutions are disclosed to comprise 500 to 7,000 ppm (0.5 to 7 g/L) of the composition, preferably 1000 to 3000 ppm. If the non-soap surfactant level varies from 11 to 21 wt %, as in the examples, this would provide a preferred wash solution non-soap surfactant concentration of from 0.1 to 0.6 g/l. Although the general disclosure allows for high levels of EPEI, the actual levels used are too low to realise the benefit from the low dose of surfactant to the wash from a low volume dose of the composition.

Methods and compositions for fabric cleaning


According to one embodiment, a card device includes an authentication unit, a wireless communication unit, and a control unit. The authentication unit performs an authentication process with an external device via wired communication. The wireless communication unit performs wireless communication with the external device. The control unit controls the wireless communication unit to reduce radio waves radiated from the wireless communication unit when the control unit detects that the authentication process is being performed.

There has been conventionally known a card device that includes mounted therein an authentication unit configured to perform an authentication process with an external device via wired communication and a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication to transmit and receive data.
For performing wireless communication, various electronic circuits are driven, and electromagnetic noise (radio waves) is radiated from such electronic circuits. Accordingly, if wireless communication is performed while an authentication process is being performed, an error may occur in the authentication result under the influence of electromagnetic noise caused with the wireless communication. In particular, since the authentication unit and the wireless communication unit are placed close to each other in a small space of the card device, electromagnetic noise radiated from the wireless communication unit has a significant impact on the authentication process performed by the authentication unit.


A visual information processing method and apparatus for acquiring and processing visual information by successively changing the amount of visual information entered with regard to a desired target position in space, reading image data at each position at which an image is formed and storing the image data in correspondence with the target position in space. The amount of visual information is successively changed by changing the image-forming position corresponding to the target position in space by moving of the optic axis of a wide-angle lens. The visual information is successively altered by zooming or by filtering which relies upon a two-dimensional filter.

This invention relates to a visual information processing method and apparatus, particularly a visual information processing method and apparatus capable of extracting feature quantities from a two-dimensional image signal and of encoding the signal.
A conventional image input unit uses an input system in which a coordinate transformation from a coordinate system in real space to coordinates on a sensor plane is linear. For example, there is the usual lens system employed in a video camera, namely a lens system which realizes an identity mapping, and a line sensor used in a scanner. If the spacing between the sensors of an array sensor is constant in such an input system, sampling data having the same resolution are obtained over the entire area covered by the array sensor. Accordingly, if the sampling frequency is high enough, an advantage is that the input data will contain enough information for processing to be executed continuously.
A system is available in which use is made of a wide-angle lens in order to a view a wide area at one time. This system implements a monotonous scale conversion of the type in which the image becomes smaller in size as distance from the optical axis of the lenses increases. The advantage of this system is that it is possible to view all of a hemisphere at one time.
An ordinary lens system equipped with an optic-axis control device and a wide-angle lens for viewing the entirety of a hemisphere at one time are used in combination as the visual-information input unit of a monitoring apparatus, self-propelled vehicle or self-controller robot, which require that visual information over a wide range be obtained at one time. The direction of the optic axis of the ordinary lens system is decided based upon coarse information of the surroundings obtained by the wide-angle lens. With a system of this kind, high-resolution visual information over a narrow range and low-resolution visual information of a wide range may be obtained simultaneously.
A panoramic input unit realized by rotating the array sensor also has been proposed in order to obtain high-resolution visual information covering a wide range. The system provides full-peripheral high-resolution data if a suitable amount of time is expended.
However, the examples of the prior art described above have the following drawbacks:
1. Absolutely no visual information regarding areas other than an area capable of being entered at one is obtained from an input system that relies upon fixed, uniform sampling.
2. The resolution of the periphery declines dramatically when an input is made through the intermediary of the wide-angle lens.
3. In a panoramic input unit, a certain fixed period of time is necessary to obtain high-resolution visual information of a wide area.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a visual information processing method and apparatus for obtaining an appropriate amount of visual information at high speed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a visual information processing method and apparatus whereby a multi-resolution approximation or multi-resolution space, which is effective as an expedient for expressing an image, is obtained through a simple arrangement.
In order to solve the problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a visual information processing method in a visual information processing apparatus for acquiring and processing visual information, characterized by successively changing visual information with regard to a desired spatial position, reading image data at each image-forming position and storing the image data in correspondence with the spatial position.
The visual information is successively changed by changing the image-forming position corresponding to the spatial position by moving of the optic axis of a lens. The lens is a wide-angle lens. Further, the visual information is successively altered by zooming. Further, the visual information is successively changed by filtering which relies upon a two-dimensional filter. Further, there are at least two spatial positions, image data at each image-forming position are read out in correspondence with each spatial position, and the image data are stored in correspondence with each spatial position. The method is further characterized by a step of detecting at least two above-mentioned spatial positions. The method is further characterized by a step of changing the read image data to image data of multi-resolution space corresponding to the spatial positions, or to a power spectrum.
The invention further provides a visual information processing apparatus for acquiring and processing visual information, characterized by comprising visual information changing means for changing obtained visual information with respect to a desired spatial position, and visual information memory means for reading image data at each image-forming position and storing the image data in correspondence with the spatial position.
The visual information changing means has optic-axis moving means for moving the optic axis of a lens. The lens is a wide-angle lens. Further, the visual information changing means has means for controlling zooming. Further, the visual information changing means has means for performing predetermined two-dimensional filtering. Further, there are two or more spatial positions, and the visual information changing means reads the changing image data in correspondence with each spatial position and stores the image data in correspondence with each spatial position. The method is further characterized by a step of detecting the plurality of spatial positions. The apparatus is further characterized by having position detecting means for detecting the plurality of spatial positions. The apparatus is further characterized by having visual information processing means for changing the read image data to image data of multi-resolution space corresponding to the spatial positions, or to a power spectrum.
Further, a visual information processing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by comprising image input means which includes a wide-angle lens, autofocus means, rangefinding means and an array sensor, input-parameter control means for controlling an input parameter of the image input means, external memory means for storing image information that enters from the image input means, and calculating means which, on the basis of distance to an object obtained from the rangefinding means and a coordinate transformation equation of the wide-angle lens, calculates an input-parameter control quantity, which controls the input parameter, and timing at which the image information is recorded in external recording means.
The apparatus is further characterized by comprising two-dimensional filter means for subjecting an output image from the array sensor to more than one stage of filtering. The apparatus is further characterized by comprising extremum detecting means for detecting an extremum of a two-dimensional signal outputted by the array sensor or two-dimensional filter means, and extremum memory means for storing coordinates of the detected extremum.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

Visual information processing method and apparatus for extracting feature quantities from a two-dimensional image signal