The present invention relates to a heat spreader and a semiconductor device package having the same. The semiconductor device package comprises a substrate, a semiconductor die, a plurality of bonding wires, a heat spreader, a molding compound and a plurality of solder bumps. The die is mounted on the top surface of the substrate. The bonding wires are used for electrically connecting the substrate and the semiconductor die, and each of the bonding wires has a highest portion. The heat spreader has at least one groove on a bottom surface thereof in the position corresponding to the highest portion of the bonding wires. The molding compound encapsulates the substrate, the semiconductor die and the heat spreader. As a result, the groove of the heat spreader can prevent the bonding wires from touching the heat spreader.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat spreader and a semiconductor device package having the same, particularly to a heat spreader with at least one groove and a semiconductor device package having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a conventional semiconductor device package 1. The conventional semiconductor device package 1 comprises a substrate 11, a semiconductor die 12, a plurality of bonding wires 13, a heat spreader 14, a molding compound 15 and a plurality of solder bumps 16. The substrate 11 has a top surface and a bottom surface. The semiconductor die 12 is mounted on the top surface of the substrate 11. The bonding wires 13 are used for electrically connecting the substrate 11 and the semiconductor die 12. The heat spreader 14 comprises a heat spreader body 141 and a supporting portion 142. The heat spreader body 141 is a plane and its top surface is a surface that is exposed to the air for dissipating heat after being encapsulated.
The supporting portion 142 extends outwardly and downwardly from the outermost edge of the heat spreader body 141 and is in contact with the top surface of the substrate 11 so as to form a cavity to accommodate the semiconductor die 12 and the bonding wires 13. The molding compound 15 encapsulates the substrate 11, the semiconductor die 12, the bonding wires 13 and the heat spreader 14, but the top surface of the heat spreader body 141 is exposed to the air. The solder bumps 16 are formed on the bottom surface of the substrate 11 and the semiconductor die 12 is electrically connected to an outer circuit (not shown) by the solder bumps 16.
A shortcoming of the conventional semiconductor device package 1 is, described as follows. Because each of the bonding wires 13 is a bending curve, whose turning portion is a highest portion 131. When the semiconductor die 12 is relative high or the supporting portion 142 of the heat spreader 14 is relative low, the bottom surface of the heat spreader body 141 will touch the highest portion 131 of the bonding wire 13 easily causing a short circuit, or the downward force of the heat spreader 14 against the bonding wire will break the connection between the bonding wire 13 and the semiconductor die 12 or the substrate 11 so as to cause open circuit.
Consequently, there is an existing need for a novel and improved heat spreader and package structure to solve the above-mentioned problem.

Heat spreader and semiconductor device package having the same

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


Certain aspects of a system for controlling power for a network interface controller device may comprise a precision voltage comparator that may instantaneously detect ramp up of a main voltage corresponding to a main voltage source in order to control the network interface controller device. A power monitor may detect when a threshold voltage of the main voltage is reached during the ramp up. A main voltage source switch and an auxiliary voltage source switch may switch an output from an auxiliary voltage to the main voltage source without the switches being simultaneously on. The power monitor may determine whether the main voltage is ramping up in excess of a determined rate and if so, may decrease a rate at which the main voltage ramps up. A current limiter and/or the power monitor may monitor and limit an inrush current caused during main voltage ramp up.

As the demand for higher data rates and bandwidth requirements continues to increase, various technologies facilitating transmission rates of the order of about 10 Gigabits and higher are being developed for high-speed network applications. High-speed digital communication networks over copper and optical fiber are typically used in many network communication and digital storage applications. Ethernet and Fiber Channel, for example, are two widely used communication protocols which continue to evolve in response to an ever increasing need for higher bandwidth in digital communication systems. Accordingly, there is a need to develop various Gigabit networking devices that may facilitate, for example, high-speed serial data applications. The IEEE P802.3ae draft 5 specification describes the physical layer requirements for 10 Gigabit Ethernet applications and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model (ISO standard) was developed to establish standardization for linking heterogeneous computer and communication systems. It describes the flow of information from a software application of a first computer system to a software application of a second computer system through a network medium. The OSI model has seven distinct functional layers including Layer 7: an application layer; Layer 6: a presentation layer; Layer 5: a session layer; Layer 4: a transport layer; Layer 3: a network layer; Layer 2: a data link layer; and Layer 1: a physical layer. Importantly, each OSI layer describes certain tasks which are necessary for facilitating the transfer of information through interfacing layers and ultimately through the network. Notwithstanding, the OSI model does not describe any particular implementation of the various layers.
OSI layers 1 to 4 generally handle network control and data transmission and reception. Layers 5 to 7 may be adapted to handle various application issues. Specific functions of each layer may vary depending on factors such as protocol and interface requirements or specifications that are necessary for implementation of a particular layer. For example, the Ethernet protocol may provide collision detection and carrier sensing in the data link layer. Layer 1, the physical layer, is responsible for handling all electrical, optical, opto-electrical and mechanical requirements for interfacing to the communication media. Notably, the physical layer may facilitate the transfer of electrical signals representing an information bit stream. The physical layer may also provide services such as, encoding, decoding, synchronization, clock data recovery, and transmission and reception of bit streams. In high bandwidth applications having transmission speeds of the order of Gigabits, high-speed electrical, optical and/or electro-optical transceivers may be used to implement this layer.
The proliferation of physical layer devices designed to meet the needs of high speed communication applications will, without a doubt, give rise to new challenges. One challenge pertains to the development of circuits that may be adapted to support the high speed communications devices having optimized power consumption. In this regard, various attempts have been made to provide standardized power management procedures for various network devices and/or applications. To ensure proper operation of these high speed communication devices, power control or power management circuits are required for efficiently transitioning the device between various processing states.
The network driver interface specification (NDIS) defines a standardized network application programming interface (API) that provides standardized power management procedures for network interface cards (NICs). In this regard, the NDIS provides a medium access control (MAC) driver that encapsulates or wraps the complexity and details of a network interface card and provides a common application programming interface for accessing various functions of a network interface card. For example, NDIS provides a standardized API that may be used to access Ethernet-based network interface cards.
NDIS also provides a suite or library of functions, which may be adapted as tools that may be used to access the functionality of a network interface card. The suite or library of functions provided by the NDIS may be utilized by various upper level protocol drivers, thereby reducing the complexity of these upper level drivers. For example, a MAC layer driver or even transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) driver may utilize one or more functions of NDIS suite or library of functions.
FIG. 1 is a high-level block diagram of an exemplary NDIS architecture 100. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a hardware block 102, a protocol stack 104, a driver block 106, and an application block 108. The hardware block 102 may include the necessary hardware that may be utilized for communicating over a transport medium. Accordingly, the hardware block 102 may include, for example, various integrated circuits and suitable logic that may be adapted to transmit and/or receive signals from a transport medium.
The protocol stack block 104 may be adapted to provide a layered architecture that defines particular functionality and services offered by each layer in the architecture. Specifically, the protocol stack block 104 may be consistent with the layered architecture of the OSI.
The driver block 106 may include a hardware specific driver block 110 and/or a miniport driver block 112. In general, the hardware specific driver block 110 may be adapted to provide platform or hardware specific functionality. In this regard, the use of the hardware specific driver block 110 by non-native applications may be limited and in some instances, some non-native applications may not have the capability to interface with the hardware specific driver block 110. The latter may be particularly true in instances where the hardware specific driver block 110 is proprietary. In general, the miniport driver block 112 may be adapted to provide platform independent functionality such as wrapper functions. In this regard, the miniport driver block 112 may conform to certain standards and may be adapted to provide universal functions, which may be utilized by both native and non-native applications.
The application block 108 may include one or more software applications and/or functions that may be adapted to handle the communication of data received and/or transmitted by the hardware block 102. Applications in the application block 108 may be adapted to utilize the standardized wrapper functions provided by the miniport driver block 112 and/or the proprietary drivers provided by the hardware specific driver block 110. Applications in the application block 108 may utilize various functions provided by either of the hardware specific driver block 110 or the miniport driver block 112 to handle connections, process messages received by the hardware block 102 and messages to be transmitted by the hardware block 102.
For power management purposes, a network controller, such as an Ethernet medium access control (MAC) device, may be required to generate a power management event upon the receipt of certain network events. Those events may include, but are not limited to, network status changes, a management request, receipt of a network wakeup frame and receipt of a magic packet. In general, a wakeup frame may be any specified frame, also called an interested frame, that may be used to wakeup a system.
Particularly, a network wakeup event may be a hardware or software generated request, which may be used to initiate a change in power state of a system or system component or entity. For example, a network wakeup event may be utilized for changing the state of a system and/or device from a lowered powered state to a fully powered state, or vice versa. In general, network wakeup events may be generated external to a network. Exemplary network wakeup frames may include address resolution protocol (ARP) broadcast frames, directed uni-cast frames and NetBIOS broadcast frames.
In some networking applications, depending on the network vendor, some software and/or hardware applications may require the use of a network device capable of recognizing wakeup frames based on pattern matches that may occur anywhere in the first 128 bytes of the frame. Such an implementation may add excessive cost to the hardware required for the network interface controller and/or card (NIC), since additional memory and/or buffers may be required. Furthermore, since additional software programming is required to control the functionality of the network interface card, the programming overhead may further increase the cost associated with the network interface card. Moreover, in Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) wire-speed applications, these associated costs can obviously be prohibitively high. Due to the rapid growth in networking technology, a flexible power management solution is required that will not only meet current power management requirements, but will also be expandable so that it will be applicable to more advanced future networking applications.
Some conventional systems utilize rather large power monitoring circuits to aid in managing the power among the various operating states of the high speed communication devices. However, these large circuits are often complicated and not readily adaptable to the continuously varying power conditions experienced by these devices. The design of some of these power monitoring and management circuitry are often inflexible and may not be readily scaled or adapted to operate in other processing environments or on other platforms. For example, in certain instances, improper switching may result in current flowing back into a main voltage source, thereby increasing an input voltage to an undesired level. This may cause current levels to exceed various specification threshold levels. Depending on the system, this may cause the system to hang or be reset.
Furthermore, these conventional power control circuits may vastly increase the cost of processing because of the space which these power control circuits may occupy on printed circuit boards (PCBs). Since printed circuit board real estate is expensive and scarce, designers find it desirable to maximize the use of printed circuit boards by devoting as much of the real estate as possible to processing.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for providing power management for an integrated gigabit ethernet controller


A frequency measuring circuit may include an edge detector, a charge pump, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. The edge detector may be configured to generate an output pulse responsive to an edge of an input clock signal. The charge pump may be configured to generate an output signal responsive to the output pulse from the edge detector. The analog-to-digital (A/D) converter may be configured to convert the output signal into a digital value representing a frequency of the input clock signal. Related methods and integrated circuit memory devices are also discussed.

A semiconductor memory device may receive clock signals having different frequencies. Internal circuits of the semiconductor memory device may not show a same performance for all frequencies and may thus need to perform operations depending on a frequency of an input clock signal. For example, a delay locked loop (DLL) may be used to generate an internal clock signal which is synchronized with a clock signal input from an external portion. In this case, the internal clock signal can be synchronized with the external clock signal even though a delay circuit having a short delay time is used if a frequency of the external clock signal is high. When a frequency of the external clock signal is low, however, the internal clock signal may be synchronized with the external clock signal only if a delay circuit having a relatively long delay time is used. An awareness of a frequency information of the input clock signal may be used to improve frequency characteristics of the internal circuits of the semiconductor memory device.
A conventional semiconductor memory device may use a CL (CAS latency) value set by a user as frequency information for a clock signal. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit used when different delays are used according to a frequency of a clock signal in a conventional semiconductor memory device. Functions and operations of components of FIG. 1 are explained below.
One of a first delay circuit 10 and a second delay circuit 20 is selected according to a CL value, and an output signal OUT is generated by delaying an input signal IN by a predetermined time period. That is, in a conventional semiconductor memory device, a CL value is set differently according to a frequency of the input clock signal, and a generation time point of internally generated signals depends on a frequency of the input clock signal. Therefore, if a user sets a CL value according to a frequency of a clock signal to be used, the circuit of FIG. 1 selects the first delay circuit 10 or the second delay circuit 12 according to the CL value to make a generation time point of the output signal OUT.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a method of adjusting a delay time of a delay circuit according to a frequency of an externally input clock signal in the delay locked loop (DLL) of the conventional semiconductor memory device. In FIG. 2, a third delay circuit 20 and a fourth delay circuit 22 may each have multiple different delay circuits.
A delay locked loop (DLL) may be used to synchronize an internal clock signal with an external clock signal in a semiconductor memory device. As described above, if a delay locked loop is used in a semiconductor memory device, the internal clock signal can be synchronized with the external clock signal even though a delay circuit having a short delay time is used when a frequency of the external clock signal is high. In contrast, a delay circuit having a relatively long delay time may be needed when a frequency of the external clock signal is low. The semiconductor memory device of FIG. 2 generates a relatively short delay time period by cutting a second fuse 24 using a CL value set by a user for the third delay circuit 20 to generate the internal clock signal and for the fourth delay circuit 22 to not operate when a frequency of a clock signal is high. The semiconductor memory device of FIG. 2 generates a relatively long delay time period such that the internal clock signal is generated through both the third delay circuit 20 and the fourth delay circuit 22 without cutting the first and second fuses 24 and 26.
If a CL value is used as frequency information for a clock signal, however, there may be a problem in that a user should change a CL value whenever a frequency of a clock signal input to the semiconductor memory device is varied. The semiconductor memory device may operate abnormally if a user makes a mistake in setting a CL value.

Frequency measuring circuits including charge pumps and related memory devices and methods


An oven is provided for curing or reflowing compounds on objects, such as lead frames or other substrates. The oven comprises a heating chamber, a heating assembly mounted in thermal communication with the heating chamber to provide heat thereto, and a support assembly for supporting the object in the heating chamber for heating. The heating assembly and support assembly are configured to be movable relative to one another for controllably positioning the object at variable distances with respect to the heating assembly. Heating of the object according to a heating profile can thus be achieved by controlled heating of the object at different temperatures by positioning the object at different distances with respect to the heating assembly during the heating process although there is a single heating zone.

Curing ovens are employed in semiconductor assembly for setting compounds such as epoxy resin and encapsulation molding compound that are introduced onto electronic components. These compounds are usually introduced onto electronic components in fluid form. They may also be suitable for reflowing. Based on the characteristics of these compounds, they may have to be heated according to specific heating profiles during the curing or reflowing process.
In particular, one implementation of curing ovens is in the curing of epoxy or reflowing of solder applied in the field of die bonding. Typically, semiconductor dice are bonded onto substrates such as leadframes using epoxy or solder as an adhesive. Epoxy is first introduced onto the substrate in fluid form at a bonding position, and a die is placed onto the epoxy at the bonding position. The epoxy or solder is then cured or reflowed by heating to solidify the bond.
Epoxy curing or reflowing using ovens is typically carried out according to specified heating profiles, such that the epoxy is exposed to various different temperatures during the curing or reflowing processes. FIG. 7 shows typical heating profiles for epoxy curing and reflowing processes, wherein the epoxy or solder should be controllably heated at varying temperatures. For epoxy curing, the epoxy may be preheated to a curing temperature, heated at the curing temperature for a specified period of time and then allowed to cool. For solder reflow, the solder may be preheated to a flux activation temperature, heated at the flux activation temperature for a specified period of time, then further heated to a reflow temperature whereat the heating temperature is maintained at the reflow temperature for a specified period of time. Thereafter, the solder is allowed to cool. The heating profiles may differ for different types of epoxy or solder.
One common feature of prior art curing ovens is that, if the epoxy or solder compound is to be heated at different temperatures, the curing ovens must have multiple thermal zones. Thus, curing ovens typically consist of multiple thermal zones wherein each zone is maintained at a single temperature. A substrate is heated according to a specified heating profile when it travels through the different thermal zones.
The use of curing ovens requiring multiple thermal zones to conduct such heating has several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the space occupied by the curing oven is relatively large because of the need to have multiple heating zones. Its construction is also relatively complex, as different temperature zones have to be maintained and the substrate has to be conveyed through all the different temperature zones. Hence the cost of the curing oven is high. For curing oven applications where there is small-scale production and/or space limitations, such prior art curing ovens are not economical or cost-effective.
Moreover, due to the large size of such prior art curing ovens and their construction complexity, sealing of their enclosures is difficult. Thus, where nitrogen or forming gas is required in the oven to maintain a low level of oxygen content and prevent oxidation of the substrate, a large amount of such gas has to be continuously pumped to the curing oven to compensate for the leakage. Furthermore, the interaction among the interfaces of the different thermal zones induces instability on the substrate during the curing process. The final curing result may thereby be adversely affected.

Oven for controlled heating of compounds at varying temperatures


A magnetic bearing for active magnetic centering, on at least one centering axis perpendicular to a reference axis, a first body mobile at least on this centering axis relative to a second body includes at least one magnetized member and at least one coil wound around a ferromagnetic core substantially parallel to the reference axis and carried by the second body. Two parallel ferromagnetic plates perpendicular to the reference axis are attached to the core on respective opposite sides of the coil and have transversely oriented edges opposite the airgaps. The core is attached to the edges of the parallel plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a magnetic bearing for active magnetic centering and, particularly, a magnetic bearing of modular construction having a removably attached ferromagnetic core and coil.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Examples of magnetic bearings are described in European Patent 0 284 487 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,644.
The aforementioned bearings essentially differ from one another in that, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,644, the permanently magnetized members are carried by a body separate from that on which the coils are mounted whereas in European Patent 0 284 487 the permanently magnetized members are mounted on the same body as the coils.
In practice the coils of the magnetic bearings of the aforementioned type are fitted onto cores disposed between two ferromagnetic plates, the flux lines passing longitudinally through the cores, entering and leaving the cores at their edges. Accordingly, access to these cores is possible only during manufacture (access is impossible once assembly of the bearing is completed and necessarily so once the bearing is mounted in a system ready to operate). Moreover, good control of the field requires excellent control of the height of the cores so that their edges are exactly where required, against the ferromagnetic plates (or against one of these plates and against a static shim forming an airgap, as recommended in the aforementioned European Patent 0 284 487). This control can be difficult if more than one core has to be positioned between the same two plates.

Magnetic bearing with attached coil core

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle


A sound processing apparatus includes a sound processing section configured to produce left and right channel effect signals by conducting a sound process on left and right channel sound signals, a sound image area expanding section configured to produce left and right channel sound image signals by which sound images are localized outside left and right 2-channel speakers, and a signal combining section configured to add the left channel sound signal and the left channel sound image signal, and add the right channel sound signal and the right channel sound image signal.

The present invention relates to a technique for controlling a sound field.
Conventionally, techniques have been proposed in which sound images are localized outside left and right 2-channel speakers by signal processing performed on left and right two channels. For example, JP-A-2009-302666 discloses a configuration where the component of a specific frequency Fd of a left channel sound signal is suppressed, and then added to a right channel sound signal, and the component of the specific frequency Fd of the right channel sound signal is suppressed, and then added to the left channel sound signal. When the frequency Fd of components to be suppressed is adequately selected, the sound images can be localized outside the left- and right channel speakers.
However, there is a case where a desired sound field effect (for example, a sound field in which senses of presence and spread can be sufficiently felt, and which is sufficiently approximated to a desired sound space) is actually hardly realized by simply expanding the positions of the sound images by the technique of JP-A-2009-302666. In view of the above-discussed circumstances, it is an object of the present disclosure to realize a sufficient sound field effect.


A forklift truck for mounting on the rear of a carrying vehicle comprises a u-shaped chassis having a crossbar and a pair of side bars mounted at the ends of the crossbar and projecting forwardly therefrom. A wheel is located adjacent the free end of each of the side bars and a steerable rear wheel is located centrally on the crossbar, a drivers station is positioned to one side of the chassis and a motive power unit is positioned on the opposite side of the chassis. The chassis mounts a vertical multi-lift mast having a plurality of mast sections, one of which carries a pair of forks. The fork-carrying mast section further comprises a freelift mast system having means to positively move the forks upwards relative the mast section and means to positively move the forks downwards relative the mast section.

Truck mounted forklifts, otherwise known as piggyback forklifts, have been known for many years. These forklifts can be mounted on the rear of a carrying vehicle or trailer and transported to customers premises on the back of the carrying vehicle or trailer. Once at the customers premises, the forklift can be dismounted from the carrying vehicle and used to transport goods to and from the vehicle on the customer's premises. These forklifts have been found to be useful particularly when used to transport goods to small businesses that do not have access to a forklift, as the deliveries may be made in a fast and efficient manner whilst at the same time reducing the manual workload required by the operators of the small business.
One such piggy-back forklift is that described in the applicants own UK patent application publication number GB2260119. This application describes a piggyback forklift truck having a multi-lift mast comprising an outer mast section for mounting on the truck, a middle mast section slidably mounted on the outer mast section and an inner mast section slidably mounted on the middle mast section. A carriage carrying a pair of forks is further provided and is in turn slidably mounted on the inner mast section. A first chain mechanism connects the outer mast section to the inner mast section and a second chain mechanism connects the middle mast section to the fork carriage. The first and second chain mechanisms are such that as the middle mast section is raised relative the outer mast section by a pair of hydraulic rams, the inner mast section is caused to rise relative the middle mast section and the fork carriage is caused to rise relative the inner mast section. In this way, a truck mounted forklift having a single pair of rams operable on the outer and the middle mast sections may be used simultaneously to raise both the inner mast section and the forks via the chain mechanisms. Therefore only a single pair of rams is required to operate the mast thereby reducing the overall weight of the forklift. This type of forklift has proved to be very successful in operation.
There is however a problem with the known type of forklift. These forklifts are often required to operate in areas with relatively low overhead clearance. In order to raise the forks of the known type of forklift the mast sections must also be raised at the same time by the rams. This increases the overall height of the forklift which may be unacceptable particularly in areas with restricted overhead clearance. The functionality and usefulness of the forklift is therefore compromised.
One solution to this problem has been the introduction of the so called "freelift" multi-lift masts. These masts are similar to the regular multi-lift masts but differ in the fact that the forks are carried by a freelift system which in turn is mounted on the inner mast section. The freelift system replaces the chains connecting the forks to the middle mast section of the known forklifts and comprises a fluid actuated ram and pulley purchase system connected to the mast section and the forks. The freelift system can raise the forks upwardly by a limited amount relative the inner mast section without increasing the height of the mast simply by operating the fluid actuated ram. In order to lower the forks relative the inner mast section, the fluid actuated ram is released and the forks descend under gravity. In this way, adjustment of the height of the forks is possible even in areas with a low overhead clearance. However, this type of freelift multi-lift mast has been found to be unsuitable for truck mounted forklifts. In order to mount a piggyback forklift onto a truck or trailer, they require what is known as "negative lift" whereby the forks of the forklift engage the truck and the forks are driven downwards to lift the forklift truck clear of the ground up onto the carrying vehicle. Due to the presence of the freelift multi-lift mast, the only force limiting the upwards movement of the forks is the weight of the forks themselves. It is not possible therefore to generate enough negative lift to raise the forklift up onto the vehicle.
One proposed solution to this problem is to provide a locking pin to lock the forks and the inner mast section in a fixed relationship with respect to each other before attempting to mount the forklift onto the vehicle. This has the disadvantage that a considerable amount of time must be spent in aligning the mast section and the forks together before the locking pin may be inserted. Another disadvantage is that the operator of the forklift must alight from the vehicle In order to Insert the locking pin which is inconvenient and further increases the amount of time spent in loading and unloading the forklift from the carrying vehicle. This represents a significant amount of time spent in the mounting of the forklift on the carrying vehicle. Another disadvantage of having to use the locking pins is that these locking pins are prone to loss and damage and should the locking pin be lost or damaged when the forklift is being used offsite, a replacement locking pin has to be provided which can result in the loss of a significant amount of time for the operator of the forklift.
A further situation where negative lift is required is when the piggyback forklift is required to navigate a step that is too large for the wheels of the piggyback forklift to mount alone without assistance. Normally, In order to navigate such a step, the operator of the piggyback forklift will extend the mast carrying carriage to its forwardmost position on the u-shaped chassis so that the forks protrude the maximum distance forward of the forklift. When the mast and forks are in position, the operator of the vehicle drives the vehicle up to the step and lowers the forks down on to the step. The forks are then lowered further until the forklift truck begins to rise relative the step. Once the forklift has risen sufficiently so that the wheels are substantially level with the step, the mast carrying carriage is retracted backwards on the unshaped chassis which has the effect of pulling the entire forklift truck and in particular the front wheels of the forklift truck forwards up onto the step. This can only be achieved by the forklift truck having a mast assembly that is able to provide negative lift. Therefore, when using the known types of piggyback forklift with freelift multi-lift masts the operator of the forklift will have to align the forks with the mast section and insert the locking pin to secure the forks in position so that negative lift may be provided to the forks. The operator of the vehicle may have to navigate a step numerous times during the course of a single delivery. If the operator of the vehicle is forced to align the forks with the inner mast section before dismounting from their vehicle and inserting locking pins each time the step must be navigated, the time required to carry out a delivery will be increased greatly. This is highly undesirable.
Another situation in which negative lift may be required is when the forklift is used to pick up goods that may have been left to rest on soft ground. In certain circumstances these goods may subside into the soft ground thereby making their retrieval more difficult. By having negative lift, the operator of the forklift may use the negative lift to drive the forks of the forklift downwards Into the ground and assist In picking up the pallet or other goods that have subsided. Again, this is only possible with negative lift. If the operator of the vehicle had to move a number of pallets or other goods that had begun to subside then the time taken to effect delivery would be increased significantly as the forks would have to be aligned and the locking pins inserted for each pallet that had to be lifted by the piggyback forklift. It is imperative that the piggyback forklift is able to provide a sufficient degree of negative lift In a quick and efficient manner.

Truck mounted forklift with double-acting freelift mast

Moffett Research and Development Limited


This invention relates to compounds of the formula 1

This invention relates to heterocyclic substituted piperazines, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use for the treatment of schizophrenia and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
The heterocyclic substituted piperazine derivatives of this invention exhibit activity as antagonists of dopamine D2 receptors and of serotonin 2A (5HT2A) receptors.
Other heterocyclic piperazine derivatives that are useful for the treatment of schizophrenia are referred to in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,747, which issued on Sep. 27, 1994, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,357, which issued on Oct. 3, 2000. These patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Other piperazine and piperidine derivatives that have been stated to be useful as antipsychotic agents are those referred to in PCT patent publication WO 93/04684, which published on Mar. 18, 1993, and European patent application EP 402644A, which was published on Dec. 19, 1990. These patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Phenylalkyl and pyridylalkyl piperazine derivatives

Abstract: wherein R1, R3, R4, X1, and X2 are defined as in the specification, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of central nervous system and other disorders.


A card connector (100) for receiving two cards includes an insulative housing (1), a lower cover (5) disposed at one side of the insulative housing for defining a first card receiving space (102), an upper cover (4) disposed at an opposite side of the insulative housing for defining a receiving space, and a number of first contacts (2) and a number of second contacts (3) retained in the insulative housing. The receiving space includes a second card receiving space (101) and a third receiving space (103) sideways relative to the second card receiving space. The card connector further includes an ejector (6) which is assembled in the third receiving space. The ejector includes an ejecting portion (621) extending into the first card receiving space for ejecting one of the two cards.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a card connector, and more particularly to a stacked card connector defining two spaces for receiving two cards while at the same time reducing a height thereof.
2. Description of Related Arts
A stacked card connector including a first card connector such as a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card connector and a second card connector such as an SD (Secure Digital Memory) card connector is widely used nowadays. The SD card connector usually comprises a push-push ejector for guiding/ejecting an SD card. However, a user inserts the SIM card in the SIM card connector and withdraws the SIM card out of the SIM card connector without an ejector. Because the SIM card connector is small in size and the SIM card is thin, it is rather inconvenient in withdrawing the SIM card by fingers.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0305567 published on Dec. 10, 2009 and having the same assignee as the present patent application discloses a SIM card connector which has an ejector for ejecting an inserted SIM card. The SIM card connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, and an ejector assembled on the insulative housing. The insulative housing comprises a base portion defining a plurality of passageways for receiving the contacts, a pair of lateral walls extending upwardly from two edges of the base portion, and a rear wall extending upwardly from a rear edge of the base portion which is opposite to a front edge which guides an insertion of a card. The rear wall forms a protrusion on an upper surface thereof. The ejector comprises an operating lever extending along a card insertion direction and an ejecting lever extending along a transverse direction relative to the card insertion direction. The ejecting lever defines an aperture in a middle part thereof, and the ejecting lever is assembled on the insulative housing by securing the protrusion to the aperture. The ejecting lever pivotally rotates around the protrusion when the operating lever is operated. The ejecting lever then confronts the inserted card and ejects the card out of the card receiving space. The ejector is assembled on the upper surface of the insulative housing, which increases a height of the SIM card connector. When such a SIM card connector of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20090305567 is stacked on a SD card connector, the height of the stacked card connector is inevitably high.
Hence, a stacked card connector having a low height is desired to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art.

Card connector with a housing with two covers receiving two cards


The invention relates to a multiplexing and demultiplexing method and apparatus, wherein a transmission of input data from one or a plurality of input buffers to a plurality of or one output buffer, respectively, is released when all of the plurality of or the one output buffer is capable of receiving data. Thus, a plurality of devices can be connected to another device using only one address. The plurality of devices may then decide themselves whether the data belongs to them or not. In one direction, the data is broadcasted to all of the plurality of devices and, in the other direction, one of the plurality of devices can transmit data at a time. Accordingly, interface addresses can be saved in case the number of addresses is not enough for all of the plurality of devices.

ATM is a transfer mode in which information is organized into cells. It is asynchronous in the sense that the recurrence of cells containing information from an individual user is not necessarily periodic. ATM is a layered architecture allowing multiple services like voice, data and video to be mixed over the network.
It is desirable that a common interface between the lowest physical layer (PHY) and upper layer modules such as the ATM layer is defined, to thereby allow a common PHY interface in ATM subsystems across a wide range of speeds and media types.
In many cases, an arrangement is provided, where a plurality of PHY devices are connected via the PHY interface to a single ATM device. Thus, an address has to be allocated to the PHY devices, which is used by the higher layer device in order to individually access one of the PHY devices in order to perform a data transfer. However, the number of available addresses according to the PHY interface specification may not be large enough to support a desired number of physical devices.
Although conversion circuits such as multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) circuits are known to connect a plurality of non-addressable PHY devices to a higher layer device, these circuits are not suitable for overcoming the above problem, because they also demand a respective address for each of the non-addressable PHY devices.

Multiplexing and demultiplexing method and apparatus


A tramway track drainage device includes a drain channel section (5, 6) provided with two ends, at least one end being provided with a wall (14, 16) closing the end. The device further includes an opening (41) created in the wall (14, 16) to form an inspection window for a cable connection (80) with a rail (2) and a plug (60, 70) for closing the opening (41), removable from inside the drain channel section (5, 6).

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drainage system for a tramway track or the like. "Or the like" is understood as meaning any railway track which is usefully drained, especially railway tracks that comprise grooved rails.
Description of the Related Art
A platform for a tramway track in an urban area typically consists of a surface in which there are embedded two railway tracks, each formed of two rails. Since the surface of the platform is substantially in alignment with the top end of the rails, mixed traffic (tramway, motor vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian) is possible, the rails forming only a slight irregularity. This platform must be drained, as must the groove of the rails, in order to facilitate the movement of vehicles and people and to avoid degradation due to moisture.
On the other hand, the rails must be connected to electric cables of large cross-section, especially for earthing.
Conventionally, drainage and the electrical connections are carried out at a distance from one another. The electrical connections between the rails and the cables integrated into the platform are accessible with difficulty.
There are known drainage systems composed of drain channel sections, for example made of polymer concrete, which are disposed at certain intervals transversely to the tracks and are covered with grids. From one side of the platform to the other there are found, in succession, a lateral drain channel section, an inter-rail section, an inter-track section, a further inter-rail section and a further lateral section. These sections are embedded in the platform and are connected beneath the rails to form a transverse drain channel.
The connections between drain channel sections are made, for example, with the aid of tubular joining members which are disposed beneath a rail and connect two outlet orifices created in two drain channel sections which are disposed facing one another on each side of the rail. Another joining member can be produced in the form of a spout which is disposed between a drainage hole or slot formed in the hollow profile or groove of the rails and the inside of the drain channel section. Such a system is described in French patent FR 2 765 599. Drainage of the grooves of the rails is obtained by slots formed vertically, corresponding to the drain channels, in the bottom of the grooves. The slots open beneath the groove, above the foot of the rail. The water collected in the groove of the rail is carried away by the drainage slots and then collected by spouts which are disposed at the ends of the drain channel sections and engaged beneath the groove of the rail.
Document DE 20 2010 008 256 describes another spout. The spout is inserted, on assembly, by sliding into a location outside an end face of a drain channel portion. This arrangement is not removable after it has been brought into service. The existing systems do not allow access for inspection or intervention during service. The existing systems are not intended for the passage of cables.


An ink composition comprised of a vehicle, colorant, and associated with said colorant a primary amine, a secondary amine, or a tertiary amine.

The present invention is directed to ink compositions, and imaging and printing processes thereof. More specifically, in embodiments the present invention is directed to ink jet ink compositions with improved waterfastness characteristics, and desirable viscosities, and which inks are useful for printing on a variety of substrates, such as paper, and wherein the inks contain colorants, especially pigments, such as carbon black, especially acidic carbon blacks, with associated primary, secondary, and/or tertiary amine complexing components. The inks can be formulated by, for example, adding the amine and carbon black to water, and wherein there is formed a weak network of interaction between the carbon black particles and the amine. The inks of the present invention in embodiments possess an initial high viscosity, for example from about 20 to about 500 centipoise, and a low viscosity when subjected to shearing forces, for example after being ejected from an ink jet head, which low viscosity is, for example, from about 1 to about 10 centipoise, and more specifically, from about 2 to about 5 centipoise (cps), and subsequently, an important return to high viscosity upon removal of the shear forces, for example, once the ink rests on the substrate surface, which viscosity is from about 20 to about 500 centipoise, thereby enabling excellent jettability and excellent image resolution. Of importance with respect to the present invention is the enablement of inks with a high viscosity after shearing, as compared to similar prior art inks with dyes, reference for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,159, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, and wherein inks with dyes with amines are disclosed, and which inks are very nonviscous after shearing; for example these inks possess a low viscosity of from about 2 to about 5, thus the image resolution and other image and ink characteristics are inferior when compared to the pigmented inks and developed images thereof of the present invention. Viscosity and surface tensions are important contributing factors in the generation of excellent quality prints on plain papers, that is prints with acceptable edge acuity, or the sharpness of the edge between the printed and nonprinted areas, minimal ink feathering on paper, and characterized, for example, by a desirable uniformity of solid area ink coverage.
The inks of the present invention can be selected for a number of known ink jet printing methods and apparatus, including thermal ink jet, or bubble jet processes as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,777, U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,824, U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,899, U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,224, and U.S. Pat No. 4,532,530, the disclosures of which are totally incorporated herein by reference, acoustic ink jet processes, reference U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,312, U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,568, U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,316, U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,554, and copending patent application U.S. Ser. No. 641,866, the disclosures of each of the aforementioned patent applications being totally incorporated herein by reference. Many of the components, such as the vehicles, additives, pigments, and the like of the aforementioned copending applications may be selected for the inks of the present invention in embodiments thereof. Rapid drying and excellent, or superior waterfastness, in embodiments of the present invention of from between about 90 to about 99 percent, greater than 95 percent, and more specifically, from about 95 to about 99.5 percent, are of value in rapid printing applications, such as printing by xerography at, for example, a speed of from about 50 to about 100 copies per minutes. Also, in embodiments the inks of the present invention possess water staining resistance.


A moisture metering calibration method and system for, e.g., determining the moisture lumber within a lumber drying kiln is disclosed. Calibration of moisture indicative electrical signals obtained from, e.g., moisture sensing capacitive plates spaced apart within a stack of drying lumber is performed, wherein long lengths (e.g., up to 1000 linear feet or more) of coaxial cable can be used for transmitting the signals, and effectively removing signal anomalies induced in such cabling so that accurate lumber moisture measurements result. Such extended cable lengths provides flexibility with respect to placement of electronic moisture metering equipment. This flexibility allows such equipment to be placed in an environmentally-controlled enclosure, rather than on the weather exposed exterior of a kiln whose lumber is being monitored.

Final moisture content of kiln-dried lumber is extremely critical to ensure optimal performance of the lumber in its end-use. Lumber that is too wet (under-dried) is prone to mold growth that can significantly compromise the lumber's strength, durability, and appearance. Under-dried lumber will also experience shrinkage as it dries to equilibrium, resulting in dimensional problems. Lumber that is too dry, or over-dried, will tend to warp and crack, also causing dimensional problems and rendering it less useful in most applications. Over-drying also results in lost productivity, and increased energy costs.
Both under drying and over drying will significantly reduce the desirability and market value of the lumber. For these reasons, in-situ monitoring of kiln dried lumber is highly advantageous.
It is established in prior art that it is possible to position steel plates spaced apart in a lumber stack, so that an electrical signal can be applied while drying of the lumber is in progress. The capacitance response between the plates can then be used as an indicator of moisture content, since the main dipolar constituent between the plates is the water in the lumber. Prior art systems of this type have been commercially available for two decades, from a variety of vendors. Such prior art systems (e.g., by the manufacturers Wagner, Wellons, and Accudry) have been described in significant detail in various public disclosures, including the following U.S. Patent Nos.: U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,578 by Wagner; U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,233 by Parker, et. al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,847 by Venter et. al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,989,678 by Venter et. al. each of which is fully incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, the following U.S. patent Nos. are fully incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,055 by Kraxberger; U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,599 by Preikschat; U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,584 by Blaker et. al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,801 by Cherry et. al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,671 by Steele, et. al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,672 by Steele, et. al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,068,050 by Steele; U.S. Pat. No. 7,068,051 by Anderson; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0187341 by Studd, et. al. is also fully incorporated herein by reference.
Such prior art systems use electrical metering devices to measure the moisture content of lumber as it dries in a kiln. In most (if not all) cases, these electrical metering arrangements involve placement of steel plates in the lumber to form a capacitor. The various systems then employ some form of cabling to carry the electrical signal from the plates back to such a metering device. The metering device measures the electrical capacitance of the circuit formed by the steel plates and the lumber. The capacitance is closely related to the moisture content in the lumber, so the metering device output can be appropriately scaled to read out in terms of moisture content. Typically the meter provides the capacitance values from the plates to either a PC (i.e., personal computer) or a PLC-based controller (i.e., programmable logic controller). The transform from capacitance to moisture content is performed either in the meter or in the PLC/PC, and the moisture content values are then used by a kiln controller (a separate control system) to identify when no further drying of the lumber is desired.
Typically, prior art systems include multiple metering devices (each also referred to herein as a capacitive meter, or evaluator) mounted on either the kiln interior or the kiln exterior. In this manner, the electrical signals to and from the steel plates, inserted in the kiln stacks (i.e., lumber stacks within the kiln), travel only a very short distance, e.g., less than 50 linear feet via carefully isolated conductive wires.
The placement of the metering devices close to the kiln stack is primarily due to difficulties with calibration of the signals from the capacitor plates to such a metering device. In particular, the wiring (also referred to as cabling herein) from the capacitor plates to the metering device is a significant design issue in establishing a reliable and accurate metering circuit. For example, numerous issues must be considered in the design of the cabling, including the following:                The cables must be electrically insulated or isolated from all potential electrical grounds.        The cabling must be corrosion resistant.        The cabling must be capable of dealing with extremes in temperature, typically from as low as −60 F up to 250 F.        The cabling must be mechanically robust and able to survive rough handling.        The cabling must be resistant to electrical noise.        The metering equipment must be calibrated to effectively remove signal losses inherent to the cabling from the capacitance measurements output by the metering equipment. In other words, all cabling will have losses of some sort that will appear to the metering equipment as an electrical load. However, it is desirable to have a calibration method that is able to compensate for the cabling losses such that the meter only outputs data indicative of the capacitance of the plates (corresponding to lumber moisture content), and not losses from the cables themselves.
Most prior art kiln moisture measurement systems attempt to address the calibration issue by minimizing the length of the cable length to the metering device. As indicated above, the metering devices are typically mounted on the exterior of the kiln, and as close as possible to the points where the moisture measurements are taken. Thus, by keeping the length of the cable short, the signal losses in the cable are reduced, and most of the cable signal can be attributed to the capacitance of the plates. Additionally, the relatively small losses incurred can be adjusted out with empirical tuning and zeroing of the circuits to normalize their response, as one skilled in the art will understand.
However, locating the meters on the kiln exterior makes them susceptible to weather conditions, which can be extraordinarily harsh. Many North American kilns are located in the Northern U.S. and Canada where temperatures are extremely low in the winter. Kilns vent a high amount of moisture, which turns to ice on the kiln exterior. In some cases, the high weight of ice on the meter is enough to cause structural damage to the meter. Meters are sealed, but the sealant is not foolproof and in some cases the ever-present moisture in the kiln-environment can get inside the meter, shorting it out. Thus, the reduced lifetime and reliability of the meters is a serious shortcoming in the prior art systems.
Ancillary problems also result from prior art cabling approaches. In particular, prior art calibration methods are only well suited to very simple wiring methods, such as a bare stranded wire or an insulated stranded wire, and with very short cable lengths. Moreover, when non-insulated cables are used in a kiln, the cables are kept electrically isolated via insulating standoffs. That is, for each cable, there is an electrically isolated swing-arm for supporting the cable in a tensioned state between a capacitor plate and a meter. However, electrically isolated standoffs and their cables can be awkward to kiln workers to manipulate, and falling lumber in the kiln can cause the non-insulated cables to short circuit.
Moreover, both non-insulated stranded wire and insulated stranded wire are susceptible to electrical noise which can further compromise the validity of the capacitance signal. Additionally, although coaxial cable is far more resistant to electrical noise than non-insulated stranded wire and stranded wire and communicates a superior signal (e.g., a higher signal to noise ratio), the use of coaxial cable can be difficult for prior art kiln moisture monitoring systems in that there are high capacitance levels generated in coaxial cable that can not be easily removed by the simple prior art calibration methods.
In summary, the above described prior art systems for drying lumber results in a variety of problems:                1. Short circuiting of the wiring is difficult to prevent. Since the wires are non-insulated, the wires must be kept electrically isolated via a series of insulated standoffs installed in the kiln interior.        2. Installation of a meter or evaluator can be problematic. Since the meter must be installed on the kiln exterior, and since kilns are often stacked together with limited external wall space, it may be necessary in some cases to install the meters on the kiln roof. This is potentially hazardous for electricians and makes servicing the meters very difficult. Moreover, the difficulty of installation results in high installation labor cost as well as excessive kiln down-time when such a prior art kiln moisture monitoring system is installed.        3. The location of the meters on the kiln exterior makes them susceptible to weather conditions, which can be extraordinarily harsh. Moreover, kilns vent a high amount of moisture, which can turn to ice on the kiln exterior. In some cases, the high weight of ice on the meter is enough to cause structural damage to a meter. Meters are sealed, but the sealant is not foolproof and in some cases the ever-present moisture in the kiln-environment can get inside the meter, shorting it out.        4. In order to prevent the non-insulated wires from coming into contact with each other, a tensioning system on a swing arm is required. This swing arm can become problematic in the kiln, and can be broken off by falling boards or equipment. It can also be electrically shorted by a variety of sources, including chain falls, cables, other wiring, etc.        5. The use of standard wiring makes the system susceptible to electrical noise, which is generated by the large equipment motors in use, as well as more typical sources such as fluorescent lighting.        6. Accurate and reliable calibration in the prior art monitoring/controlling systems can be difficult. In particular, such prior art calibration requires careful correction of the capacitance reading at the end of the wire leading from the meter to the plates.
For all the aforementioned reasons, it is more advantageous to install the metering equipment in a centralized, environmentally-controlled equipment space, such as a control room, wherein humidity, moisture, and ice is prevented from damaging the electronics in the metering equipment. Further, it is advantageous to run the wiring with insulated coaxial cable rather than with standard stranded wire since coaxial cable offers superior noise rejection and a high degree of resistance to electrical faults, such as an inadvertently grounded cable. Moreover, use of these insulated coaxial cables makes it unnecessary to mount the cabling on complicated swing arms that are susceptible to breakage and electrical faults. These advantages are provided by the kiln moisture monitoring system disclosed hereinbelow.
Description of Terms
                Meter: A set of electronics (and associated software and/or firmware) used to measure the capacitance (or other electrical properties, e.g., resistance, admittance, reactance, impedance, etc.) in a kiln lumber stack, and from such measurements, determine the moisture content of the lumber stack being dried in the kiln. The set of electronics typically includes a signal generator that excites a pair of capacitor plates, a set of amplifiers that measure the excitation and the response voltages from the capacitor plates, a comparator that evaluates the phase and amplitude of the voltage responses from the capacitor plates, a demodulation component that converts the electrical data to capacitance (more generally, impedance) and finally to moisture content in the lumber being dried, and a power supply circuit that supplies power to the aforementioned circuit components. In the case of prior art systems, such electronics typically includes an electronics device (for receiving lumber capacitance measurements) installed on the kiln exterior or kiln interior, near the portions of the lumber from which the capacitance measurements are taken. In at least one preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the meter is located in a centralized location in an environmentally controlled room.        Metering Point: The lumber between a pair of capacitor plates from which capacitance measurements are obtained.        Channel: A channel refers to the a pair of plates forming a capacitor within a kiln lumber stack, and the cabling for communicating, to a meter, capacitance readings generated by the pair of plates. Typically, most kilns for drying lumber employ 8 channels (i.e., 8 pairs of capacitor plates) per lumber stack in a kiln, wherein each pair measures the capacitance of the drying lumber at a different localized area within the lumber stack. In the case of prior art systems, a meter located on the exterior of the kiln normally serves 1 or 2 channels. Therefore with a prior art system, 4 to 8 meters are required to serve a single kiln with 8 metering points. In the case of the present novel disclosure, the meter, located in a control room, may be coupled with a multiplexer thereby allowing the meter to serve up to 40 such channels. Therefore in the present novel disclosure, a single meter can serve up to 5 kilns, each with 8 metering points (i.e., eight capacitor plate pairs).        Terminal Impedance: The ratio of complex voltage to complex current at the input terminals of an amplifier.

Calibration and metering methods for wood kiln moisture measurement


The present invention relates to a method and system for assessing the risks and/or exposures associated with financial transactions using various statistical and probabilistic techniques. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for identifying plausible sources of error in data used as input to financial risk assessment systems using Bayesian belief networks as a normative diagnostic tool to model relationships between and among inputs/outputs of the risk assessment system and other external factors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for measuring the financial risks associated with trading portfolios. Moreover, the present invention relates to a system and method for assuring the integrity of data used to evaluate financial risks and/or exposures.
2. Description of the Related Art
As companies and financial institutions grow more dependent on the global economy, the volatility of currency exchange rates, interest rates, and market fluctuations creates significant risks. Failure to properly quantify and manage risk can result in disasters such as the failure of Barings ING. To help manage risks, companies can trade derivative instruments to selectively transfer risk to other parties in exchange for sufficient consideration.
A derivative is a security that derives its value from another underlying security. For example, Alan loans Bob $100 dollars on a floating interest rate. The rate is currently at 7%. Bob calls his bank and says, "I am afraid that interest rates will rise. Let us say I pay you 7% and you pay my loan to Alan at the current floating rate." If rates go down, the bank makes the money on the spread (the difference between the 7% float rate and the new lower rate) and Bob is borrowing at a higher rate. If rates rise however, then the bank loses money and Bob is borrowing at a lower rate. Banks usually charge a risk/service fee, in addition, to compensate it for the additional risk.
Derivatives also serve as risk-shifting devices. Initially, they were used to reduce exposure to changes in independent factors such as foreign exchange rates and interest rates. More recently, derivatives have been used to segregate categories of investment risk that may appeal to different investment strategies used by mutual fund managers, corporate treasurers or pension fund administrators. These investment managers may decide that it is more beneficial to assume a specific risk characteristic of a security.
Derivative markets play an increasingly important role in contemporary financial markets, primarily through risk management. Derivative securities provide a mechanism through which investors, corporations, and countries can effectively hedge themselves against financial risks. Hedging financial risks is similar to purchasing insurance; hedging provides insurance against the adverse effect of variables over which businesses or countries have no control.
Many times, entities such as corporations enter into transactions that are based on a floating rate, interest, or currency. In order to hedge the volatility of these securities, the entity will enter into another deal with a financial institution that will take the risk from them, at a cost, by providing a fixed rate. Both the interest rate and foreign exchange rate derivatives lock in a fixed rate/price for the particular transaction one holds.
Consider another example. If ABC, an American company, expects payment for a shipment of goods in British Pound Sterling, it may enter into a derivative contract with Bank A to reduce the risk that the exchange rate with the U.S. Dollar will be more unfavorable at the time the bill is due and paid. Under the derivative instrument, Bank A is obligated to pay ABC the amount due at the exchange rate in effect when the derivative contract was executed. By using a derivative product, ABC has shifted the risk of exchange rate movement to Bank A.
The financial markets increasingly have become subject to greater "swings" in interest rate movements than in past decades. As a result, financial derivatives have also appealed to corporate treasurers who wish to take advantage of favorable interest rates in the management of corporate debt without the expense of issuing new debt securities. For example, if a corporation has issued long term debt with an interest rate of 7 percent and current interest rates are 5 percent, the corporate treasurer may choose to exchange (i.e., swap) interest rate payments on the long term debt for a floating interest rate, without disturbing the underlying principal amount of the debt itself.
In order to manage risk, financial institutions have implemented quantitative applications to measure the financial risks of trades. Calculating the risks associated with complex derivative contracts can be very difficult, requiring estimates of interest rates, exchange rates, and market prices at the maturity date, which may be twenty to thirty years in the future. To make estimates of risk, various statistical and probabilistic techniques are used. These risk assessment systems—called Pre-Settlement Exposure (PSE) Servers—are commonly known in the art.
PSE Servers often simulate market conditions over the life of the derivative contracts to determine the exposure profile representing the worst case scenario within a two standard deviation confidence interval, or approximately 97.7% confidence. Thus, the PSE Server outputs an estimate of the maximum loss that the financial institution will sustain with a 97.7% chance of being correct. This exposure profile is calculated to give current estimates of future liabilities. As market conditions fluctuate from day to day or intra-day, the calculated exposure profile changes; however, these changes are not always due to market fluctuations, they are sometimes due to errors in the input data.

Method and system for using a Bayesian belief network to ensure data integrity


A caching arrangement for the content of multicast transmission across a data network utilizes a first cache which receives content from one or more content providers. Using the REMADE protocol, the first cache constructs a group directory. The first cache forms the root of a multilevel hierarchical tree. In accordance with configuration parameters, the first cache transmits the group directory to a plurality of subsidiary caches. The subsidiary caches may reorganize the group directory, and relay it to a lower level of subsidiary caches. The process is recursive, until a multicast group of end-user clients is reached. Requests for content by the end-user clients are received by the lowest level cache, and forwarded as necessary to higher levels in the hierarchy. The content is then returned to the requesters. Various levels of caches retain the group directory and content according to configuration options, which can be adaptive to changing conditions such as demand, loading, and the like. The behavior of the caches may optionally be modified by the policies of the content providers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to multicast transmission of information across a data network. More particularly this invention relates to an improved caching technique for use in multicasting over a data network.
2. Description of the Related Art
The push model for distributing data over the Internet and other client server networks has become more widespread in recent years. In modern versions of this model a server "multicasts" data to an interested subset of clients on the network, known as a "multicast group". Whoever is interested becomes a listener by joining the group.
By their nature, push applications are closer to the broadcasting paradigm of radio and television than to the interactive paradigm of the World Wide Web. As such, broadband networks, such as cable TV or satellite, can be used as a very efficient medium for the transmission of "pushed data". Unfortunately, currently these networks are one-way only. That is to say, data such as a television program is sent from a broadcasting facility (the head-end) to several receivers (end-users) without any feedback. As such, these networks are inappropriate for popular interactive push applications since the latter require a return channel. Although attempts to upgrade the current public network infrastructure are underway in several places around the world, it will take some years until reliable two-way broadband networks are commonplace and therefore, a mechanism for multicasting over one-way broadband networks is desirable.
Caching systems have been developed to improve the efficiency of data transmission across the internet. Current internet caching systems, however, are based on the unicast TCP/IP transport protocol. Various technical issues have impeded the development of caching systems adapted to multicast transmission. Using the unicast transport protocol, a document is required to be delivered separately to each requesting client of the cache. For example, when two clients request the same documents simultaneously, or within a short interval, the cache transmitter is required to read the document twice, and send it twice. Consequently the resources of both the cache transmitter and the internet are used inefficiently.
The document, Reliable Multicast Transport Protocol, Shioshita, Teruji et al., Draft Document for the 37th IETF, Feb. 7, 1997, proposes a transport control mechanism to enable reliable multicast data transfer to a large number of receivers on a TCP/IP network from a server in parallel. This protocol promotes short delivery time, as the data is transferred only once, and conserves bandwidth because only one copy of the data is sent to the server. It has the advantage of requiring only a single session regardless of the number of receivers. However, despite some optimizations, there remains a requirement for receiver confirmation by ACK/NAK responses and the retransmission of data to selected receivers based on the information associated with the NAK response are disadvantages, as large numbers of receivers issuing ACK/NAK responses can still cause network congestion.
Another known multicast transport protocol is proposed in Starburst Multicast File Transfer Protocol(MFTP) Specification. Miller, K. et al., Internet Draft, April 1998. This protocol operates in the Application Layer.
In copending U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,586, of common assignee herewith, and hereby incorporated by reference, a technique of IP multicasting over existing broadband networks without using a return link is disclosed. This technique allows the issues of multicast group membership and error detection and recovery to be handled locally within an end-user terminal, without need for returning data to a host. According to the technique a single data transmitter sends a group of data items to a subset of possible receivers over a one-way channel. Each data item is divided into blocks which are encapsulated to form datagrams, each including a block sequence number, a data item identifier, and a timestamp indicating the age of the data item. A group directory is regularly sent by the transmitter to each of the possible receivers. The group directory contains information for all groups of data items, enabling each receiver to select the group of data item it wishes to receive. Reliability is provided by periodic retransmission of missing data. Despite these advantages, significant problems remain.

International Business Machines Corporation


A cutting link (1) for a saw chain includes a base body (2) and a cutting tooth (3) mounted thereon and made of hard metal. The base body (2) has rivet openings (4) and a recess (6) is formed in the base body (2) for chip removal with the recess (6) being ahead of the cutting tooth (3) in running direction. A connecting leg (8) of the cutting tooth (3) is brought into surface contact laterally of the base body (2) and the cutting tooth (3) is firmly bonded to the base body (2) by brazing. The connecting leg (8) extends so far downwardly that a lower edge (13) thereof lies lower than the recess (6). The connecting leg (8) has an upwardly raised edge (15) in its rearward region opposite the neighboring rivet opening (4).

U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,039 discloses a cutting link for a saw chain which has an essentially planar base plate having flat sides parallel to each other. In this base plate, openings are provided which accommodate rivets for connecting to additional chain links. A cutting tooth is attached to the base plate and projects somewhat-beyond the rearward end of a recess in the base plate. The cutting tooth is made of hard metal and is bonded to the base plate via brazing.
With respect to its configuration, the known cutting tooth is relatively massive and the cutting tooth engages over the base plate at both sides at its upper edge in order to provide a reliable bond. In this way, the configuration of the cutting tooth is complicated and this leads to a high complexity with respect to manufacture.
International patent publication WO 2004/113035 A2 discloses a cutting link for a saw chain which comprises a base body and a cutting tooth attached thereon. The base body is provided with a laterally projecting wedge tapered in the running direction of the cutting link and this wedge serves to provide a form-tight accommodation of the cutting tooth. The cutting tooth has essentially a U-shaped cross section with a corresponding lateral slot which has a form complementary to the base body so that the cutting tooth is attached on the base body via insertion. The cutting tooth is made of a hard metal.
It is apparent that this configuration of the base body and the cutting tooth is most complex and leads to very high costs, especially because the mass of the necessary hard metal is relatively large.


A device and corresponding method for converting the contractile work of skeletal muscles into transportable energy. The device may comprise a converter having a mobile end adapted to be connected to a skeletal muscle, a relatively stationary end opposite the mobile end; one or more energy processing units operatively connected to the mobile and stationary ends of the converter, with each energy processing unit adapted to convert tensile forces generated by contraction of the skeletal muscle into transportable energy; and one or more energy conduits such as electrical wires associated with the relatively stationary end of the converter for delivering the transportable energy to power-consuming devices implanted in a body. The device may further comprise a relatively stationary end that is operatively connected to a body structure that is stationary relative to the skeletal muscle.

Present apparatus and methods for delivering power to active heart-failure treatment devices or non-cardiac devices with similar energy requirements may be problematic. For example, power conduits comprised of wires and tubes penetrating the skin may become infected. Similarly, trans-integumental transformers may present the risk of power-draining electromagnetic cross-coupling. Neither nuclear nor chemical batteries have proven to be effective for powering quantities beyond those of pacemakers and defibrillators. Likewise, power supply limitations and issues limit the practicality of various non-cardiac devices as well.
To address these limitations, the linear harnessing of contractile power from multiple in situ skeletal muscles has been investigated. Under this approach, underutilized, nonessential skeletal muscles are left in their natural sites, where they are conditioned to fatigue resistance and paced using techniques first developed in the cardiomyoplasty field. The tendon or distal muscle is connected to a hydraulic or other type of energy converter rather than to its natural insertion member, such as a bone.
Examples of specific muscles that have been harnessed in accordance with the principles described above include the psoas major, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, and one or more heads of the quadratus femoris muscles. These muscles have been shown to reliably and repetitively produce displacements in the range of about 10 to about 25 mm at mean contractile forces of about 10 to about 50 N, thereby yielding stroke work in the range of about 100 to about 1250 N-mm (equivalent to about 0.1 to about 1.25 Joules) per individual muscle. Ten percent of this energy may be recouped elastically and briefly stored for pre-stretch (preloading) to improve efficiency for subsequent beats. Assuming transmission efficiency losses of about 50% and rates in the range of about 25 to about 30 contractions per minute per muscle, harnessing of, for example, 2 to 6 muscles, may produce sufficient power for full circulatory power requirements (1 to 1.5 W). These values are averaged both over time and population. However, time-varying alterations and individual differences in energy potential may parallel similar differences in energy requirements. Thus, while circulatory power requirements may be greater during brief intervals of time (e.g., during heavy exercise), skeletal muscle potential may also be greater during the same time intervals. Similarly, both circulatory power requirements and nonessential skeletal muscle power potential may generally vary with body size and may be greater or lesser than the estimated average population values described above.
Linear harnessing of multiple in situ skeletal muscles, requires at least four technical capabilities. Linear harnessing may require, for example, approaches to effectively pace skeletal muscles for indefinite periods as well as methods to transform both muscle biochemistry and performance from anaerobic to aerobic, i.e., from quick bursts during exercise to the lower powered but non-fatiguing behavior most commonly seen in the flight muscles of birds. Similarly, linear harnessing of multiple in situ skeletal muscles may require methods of coupling muscles or their tendons to non-living (prosthetic) mechanical members capable of durable force transmission and methods of transferring the power so harvested to an active circulatory support device such as a total artificial heart, a ventricular assist device, a counterpulsator, or other like devices.
The required methods of coupling muscles or their tendons to non-living mechanical members capable of durable force transmission have been taught, for example, by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,214,047 and 6,733,510 both issued to Melvin. The requirement of methods of transferring the power to an active circulatory support device, however, has not been demonstrated to be reliable over extended time periods notwithstanding, for example, the teachings of hydraulic systems in U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,186 to Trumble, U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,248 to Magovern and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,984,857; 5,701,919; 5,653,676; and 5,344,385, all assigned to Thoratec, Inc.
The limitations of these devices taught in the prior art (referenced above) lie in the imposed movement of discrete parts through tissue required by their respective operations, which may result in an increased potential for scarring tissue which may tend to immobilize and limit motion. These devices are also limited by their physical bulk and by the potential of hydraulic seals to fail in their welded metal bellows or piston mechanisms.

Muscle energy converter with smooth continuous tissue interface


A hermetically-sealed, ohmic heating packet for storing, heating and sterilizing food and beverage items. The packet is formed of a multilayer laminate material having interior and exterior polymer layers and an intermediate metallic foil layer. Conductive tags on the exterior of the packet are electrically connected to electrodes on the interior of the packet through reverse-patched regions of the packet's sidewalls. The configuration of the electrical connection prevents current from leaking into the metallic foil layer of the packet during heating, thereby mitigating the risk of a short circuit condition in the packet. The rectangular prism geometry of the packet and the parallel configuration of the electrodes within the packet facilitate uniform heating of the packet's contents.

This invention relates generally to the field of food heating and sterilization devices and relates more particularly to a sterile, ohmic heating packet including a hermetic electrical connection between the inside of the packet and the outside of the packet.
As emerging aerospace technologies allow human beings to travel further into outer space for longer periods of time, greater quantities of provisions, such as food and beverage items, must be transported into space to provide astronauts with adequate sustenance for long-duration missions. It is therefore critical that such food and beverage items be compact and lightweight. It is also critical that such food and beverage items be stored in a manner that is resistant to spillage and contamination. Given the constrained availability of electrical power on space missions, it is also important that food and beverage items that are to be consumed aboard spacecraft can be heated and sterilized in an energy efficient manner.
Food quality is also a primary consideration in situations where provisions must be rationed and the availability of fresh food is limited or nonexistent. Typically, packaged foods that are sterilized using conventional, external hot media need to be heated for long periods of time to ensure that the slowest heating regions within the package achieve sterility. This results in significant nutritional and quality loss in the overheated portions of the food product. If heating could be made more uniform, sterilization process times could be significantly reduced, resulting in far superior product quality.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a lightweight, hermetically sealed food and beverage container that facilitates heating and sterilization of its contents in a convenient manner that requires relatively little energy. It would further be advantageous to provide such a container that facilitates highly uniform heating of its contents. It would further be advantageous to provide such a container that can be reused following food consumption to contain and sterilize additional food product or waste materials that are otherwise difficult or impossible to process.


Methods and systems for modulation and mapping of brain tissue in a subject using an ultrasound assembly are provided. An exemplary method for modulation uses an ultrasound assembly including a housing and an ultrasound transducer joined to the housing. The method includes securing the housing to the head of the subject with the ultrasound transducer aligned with a region of the brain tissue to target the region of the brain tissue for modulating, and providing focused ultrasound at an acoustic pressure to the targeted region using the ultrasound transducer to induce cavitation proximate the targeted region. The method further includes detecting a cavitation signal magnitude from the induced cavitation corresponding to the acoustic pressure and modulating the targeted region.

Focused ultrasound can be used for non-invasive treatment of brain tissue, for example, via surgical ablation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening and drug delivery, and neuromodulation. Certain neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases can be difficult to treat due at least in part to the impermeability of the blood-brain barrier, and thus, focused ultrasound can be effective to open the blood-brain barrier to induce the diffusion of molecules into brain tissue. Such methods can be used to treat Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's Disease.
A repetitive course of focused ultrasound treatment can be used to provide, for example, consistent drug delivery or neuromodulation. However, certain systems for focused ultrasound can utilize bulky and immovable equipment that can be unsuitable for use outside of a clinical setting. Additionally, it can be necessary to monitor the focused ultrasound throughout treatment to ensure efficacy and patient safety, which can further increase the size or complexity of such equipment.
Therefore, there remains an opportunity for improved techniques for modulation and mapping of brain tissue that can be more convenient and simpler for the patient, including for use by the patient outside of a clinical setting, while providing safe and effective treatment.

Systems and methods for modulation and mapping of brain tissue using an ultrasound assembly

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