An exhaust gas treatment unit of the combustion type is capable of effectively carrying out the decomposing treatment of an exhaust gas while at the same time allowing the unit to be reduced in size. The exhaust gas treatment unit includes a treatment drum, a combustion air introduction tube attached at one end of the treatment drum to introduce combustion air to the inside of the treatment drum, a fuel gas introduction tube disposed inside the combustion air introduction tube to introduce fuel gas to the inside of the treatment drum, and an exhaust gas introduction tube disposed inside the fuel gas introduction tube to introduce exhaust gas to the inside of the treatment drum. A flame tube extends from an end portion of the combustion air introduction tube on the air outlet side to the vicinity of the other end of the treatment drum, and a cooling air introduction port is provided for introducing cooling air into a space between the side wall of the treatment drum and the flame tube. By virtue of the presence of the flame tube, the fuel gas flame is kept for a longer period of time, thereby improving its contact efficiency with the exhaust gas.

The manufacture of semiconductors results in the generation of an exhaust gas containing poisonous gases or gases which may cause environmental pollution such as SiH.sub.4, Si.sub.2 H.sub.6, PH.sub.3, NH.sub.3, NF.sub.3 SF.sub.6, CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6. It is therefore necessary in facilities that discharge such exhaust gases to install an exhaust gas treatment unit to thereby decompose the exhaust gas until the concentration of these poisonous gases reaches an allowable concentration (TLV value) specified by law.
Known types of exhaust gas treatment units involve the use of a combustion type unit in which the exhaust gas is burnt by flame to effect decomposition. A general combustion type exhaust gas treatment unit utilizes a flame from a burner that is blown to the exhaust gas so that the exhaust gas is decomposed by its heat. Such a combustion type exhaust gas treatment unit can work effectively in the context of combustible gases such as SiH.sub.4, Si.sub.2 H.sub.6, PH.sub.3 and NH.sub.3.
However, in this known type of combustion type exhaust gas treatment unit, the flame is rather short from a duration standpoint. On the other hand, gases such as NF.sub.3, SF.sub.6, CF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 F.sub.6 tend to be very stable gases. Thus, a large-sized unit having a large capacity must be used and a large amount of fuel is required to decompose these gases.
In light of the foregoing drawbacks and limitations associated with known types of units, the present invention has been developed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an exhaust gas treatment unit of the combustion type that is capable of carrying out the decomposing treatment of an exhaust gas effectively, while at the same time permitting the unit to be down-sized.
An exhaust gas treatment unit according to the present invention includes a treatment drum, a combustion air introduction tube attached at one end of the treatment drum to introduce combustion air to the inside of the treatment drum, a fuel gas introduction tube disposed inside the combustion air introduction tube to introduce fuel gas to the inside of the treatment drum, an exhaust gas introduction tube disposed inside the fuel gas introduction tube to introduce exhaust gas to the inside of the treatment drum, and a flame tube extending from the end portion of the combustion air introduction tube on the air outlet side in the vicinity of the other end of the treatment drum. A cooling air introduction device is provided to introduce cooling air into a space between the side wall of the treatment drum and the flame tube, and an outlet nozzle is provided at the other end of the treatment drum to discharge the treated exhaust gas.
A process to dispose of exhaust gas from a semiconductor manufacturing unit in accordance with the present invention involves injecting exhaust gas into a drum, reacting the exhaust gas with a flame of a fuel gas and oxygen containing gas in the drum in an oxidizing reaction to produce oxidized products, and controlling the temperature of the oxidizing reaction by cooling the wall of the drum. The oxidized products are filtered to remove solid particles and produce gaseous species which are then scrubbed to release only non-harmful species to the environment.
If a mixed gas of fuel gas and combustion air is ignited in such construction as mentioned above, a flame will go ahead through the flame tube, whereby a high heat situation can be maintained. As a result, the contact of the flame with the exhaust gas is effectively carried out.
To permit treatment of plural kinds of exhaust gases at the same time, a plurality of exhaust gas introduction tubes may be provided. From a similar point of view, the inside of one exhaust gas introduction tube may be divided into a plurality of exhaust gas introduction paths.
Further, a powder scrape-off means may preferably be provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the exhaust gas introduction tube on the exhaust gas outlet side so that oxides generated in the treatment of the exhaust gas such as SiH.sub.4 are not deposited on the fore end of the exhaust gas introduction tube.
Oxygen enriched gas, e.g., air (containing approximately 21% oxygen) or oxygen enriched air, including substantially pure oxygen, can be used for the combustion, particularly to reach high temperatures necessary to decompose certain species.
The exhaust gas treatment unit of the combustion type according to the present invention can maintain a flame for a long period of time and can carry out its contact with an exhaust gas effectively because of the flame tube that is provided. Thus, it becomes possible to achieve the down-sizing of the unit, and even in a case where a small amount of fuel is used, it is possible to effectively carry out the decomposing treatment of stable exhaust gas, for example an inorganic fluorine compound such as NF.sub.3 of SF.sub.6, or any perfluorocompounds (PFCS) such as CF.sub.4, C.sub.2 F.sub.6 or the like.
Since cooling air flows around the flame tube, there is no need to provide a heat insulator on the outer circumference of the exhaust gas treatment unit. This further facilitates the ability to downsize the unit.
By mixing the cooling air with the treated exhaust gas in the exhaust gas treatment unit, the diluting treatment of exhaust gas is carried out during cooling and so the exhaust gas treatment becomes more effective.


What is shown is an apparatus (10) for adjusting the bed (12) of an operating table, the said bed comprising a plurality of segments (14a to 14f) adjustable in relation to one another, at least some of the adjustable segments (14a to 14f) being connected to actuators (16a to 16f) which can be activated in order to adjust the associated segments (14a to 14f). The apparatus (10) comprises an input device (18) for the input of commands for the adjustment of at least some of the segments (14a to 14f) connected to actuators (16a to 16f). The apparatus (10) can be operated in at least two operating modes which correspond in each case to a specific position of a patient on the bed (12). The input device (18) has means for the input of body-part-related adjustment commands which are associated with the adjustment of the position of a body part or body portion of the patient. The apparatus (10) comprises means (22) for activating the actuators (16a to 16f, which are suitable for activating the actuators (16a to 16f) as a function of the current operating mode and of a body-part-related adjustment command, such that an adjustment of the position of a body part is brought about in accordance with the body-part-related adjustment command.

In known apparatuses of this type, the input device is conventionally formed by an operating instrument with an operating face, on which buttons for adjusting the various segments are arranged. For this purpose, typically, in addition to the buttons for adjusting the individual segments, pictographs of the bed are depicted in a side view, the respective segment being emphasized in colour in these pictographs. By means of the pictographs, the user recognizes the button provided for adjusting a specific segment.
When a patient is supported on the bed in the usual way, that is to say in what is known as a normal position, each of the segments of the bed matches with a specific body part or body portion. For example, the bed may comprise a back segment, as a result of the adjustment of which the back is raised or lowered in the patient's normal position, etc.
In practice, however, the situation arises where patients are supported on the bed differently from the normal position. An important instance is a support which deviates from the normal position and in which the patient is displaced in the direction of the head end or foot end in relation to the normal position. There may be various reasons for such a support which deviates from the normal position. For example, it may be necessary, for a special intervention, that additional medical instruments, for example an operating microscope, have to be brought into the vicinity of a body part to be treated, and that this cannot be done for reasons of space when the patient is supported in the normal position. Another reason may be that a specific body part is to be radiographed, lying on the operating table, and that this is not possible in the normal position. However, supports deviating from the normal position may also become necessary due to specific operating techniques, novel interventions, anatomical features or a surgeon's preference.
A further example of a support deviating from the normal position is what is known as "reverse support", in which the patient is rotated through 180° in relation to the normal position such that the head and foot end are interchanged. Even a reverse support of this kind may be necessary for reasons of space. However, it is also used relatively frequently, for example, in neurological operations in the head region.
When the patient is supported on the bed in a position other than the normal position, the following problem arises: since, in the position deviating from the normal position, the patient's body parts lie at least partially on other segments of the bed than in the normal position, as a rule, to adjust a specific body part, other segments of the bed have to be adjusted than those in the normal position. The user must therefore always consider which of the segments has to be adjusted, in the present position of the patient on the bed, in order to vary the position of a specific body part. This "rethink" between the various positions of the patient on the bed places an additional burden on the user, that is to say the surgeon or the theatre sister, and errors may occur during adjustment.
The correct adjustment of the bed may, in practice, be made even more difficult when the view of the bed is disguised by cover sheets or appliances, so that the user cannot see which segment has to be adjusted in order to vary the position of a body part. A further difficulty is that the beds of modern operating tables are often asymmetric, so that the illustrations of the pictographs identifying the buttons of the operating instrument correctly reproduce only the view from one side, but not the view from the other side. If the user stays on this other side of the operating table, this additionally complicates the choice of the correct button.

Apparatus for adjusting the bed of an operating table


Method is provided for after market conversion of a 4×4 vehicle produced by a manufacturer into a high mobility vehicle having increased maneuverability and on-road and/or off-road capability, relative to the 4×4 vehicle. The 4×4 vehicle has a chassis with a frame, front axle and rear axle, said chassis having a standard wheelbase. The method includes dismounting at least one of the front axle or rear axle from the frame; shortening said frame; and mounting the dismounted axle to the shortened frame so as to obtain a shortened chassis having a shortened wheelbase which is shorter than any standard wheelbase of the line of models produced by the manufacturer.

An outstanding light vehicle of World War II was the jeep, a small general-purpose motor vehicle with 80-inch wheelbase, ¼-ton capacity, developed by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. It weighed 1.25 tons, had a four-cylinder engine, and could climb 60° grades and operate on rough terrain thanks to its four-wheel drive and high clearance. Since the war the jeep has been adapted for civilian use and appeared in many varieties known today as on-road and/or off-road 4×4 vehicles.
In the U.S. military, it has been replaced by the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV®), or Humvee®. Armored varieties of the jeep include the G-Wagon, Storm and Humvee®. Civilian varieties of the jeep include the Land Rover®, Land Cruiser®, and Ford Explorer®.
As is often the case with specialized military vehicles, which are generally produced in small batches, the cost of armored jeeps is usually far higher than their mass produced civilian equivalents.
"Armored cars" or civilian vehicles modified to protect the occupants from projectiles and explosives such as those produced for diplomat protection have been commercially available for many years. Such vehicles are designed to protect the occupants whilst appearing to onlookers as unmodified civilian vehicles.

Converted high mobility vehicle and conversion method therefor


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for rules based fetching of operating platform state. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for rules based fetching of operating platform state can be provided. The method can include loading a rule specifying a rule handler programmed to fetch state information for a designated operating platform and parsing the rule to identify the rule handler and a corresponding code interpreter for the rule requisite to interpreting the rule handler to fetch the state information. The method further can include directing an interpretation of the rule handler by the identified code interpreter for the rule to fetch the state information. Finally, the method can include encapsulating the state information once fetched in an information object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer operating platform administration and more particularly to operating platform state determination.
2. Description of the Related Art
The growth of enterprise computing has provided substantial advances in productivity for industrial and governmental entities in facilitating the use of computing resources to accomplish organizational tasks in an efficient and expeditious manner. However, the growth of enterprise computing also has given rise to an entire industry segment dedicated to the creation and administration of enterprise computing systems. In this regard, the information technology industry at its core provides for the administration and augmentation of enterprise computing systems including an underlying network architecture, nodal computing clients and servers, operating systems residing in the clients and servers, middleware and other applications executing in the operating systems.
Integral to the role of the administration of the enterprise is the determination of the state of an operating platform in the enterprise. Generally, multiple operating platforms can require state determination. To assess the state of an operating platform such as an operating system or host computing device, an administrator must manually request required state information, either through direct interaction with a console or user interface to the operating system, or remotely through a remote interface to the operating system. In either case, multiple different tools can be required to determine sundry albeit important state data such as memory, central processing unit (CPU) type, operating system versioning data, installed software, local configurations, scripts, scripts executed by other scripts, dependencies and the like.
Thus, assembling a complete listing of state data for an operating platform can be a manual and hence tedious process. Further, the degree of expertise requisite for an administrator using the different tools to acquire the state information can be substantial. Even knowing the requisite state data to be acquired can depend solely on the depth of expertise held by an administrator. In any event, as different administrators cycle out of an organization to seek a different role or different employment, much of this expertise can be lost.

Rules based fetching of operating platform status

International Business Machines Corporation


A portal for security screening of transport passengers includes a THz trans-receiver. In one example of the portal, the trans-receiver includes a small-spot, reflective scanning arrangement including a single detector in a heterodyne receiver configuration. In another example, the trans-receiver includes a large-beam reflective scanning arrangement with the trans-receiver in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) configuration.

The terahertz frequency spectral range is a relatively underdeveloped band of the electromagnetic spectrum. The terahertz band is bordered by the infrared on the short-wavelength side and millimeter-waves on the long-wave length side. The terahertz band encompasses radiation having a frequency range of 0.3 to 10.0 THz and wavelengths between about 30 micrometers (μm) and 1 millimeter (mm). The terahertz band is sometimes referred to by practitioners of the art as the far infrared (FIR).
Many materials that are opaque to wavelengths shorter then 30 micrometers are either transparent or semi-transparent in the terahertz band. Such materials include plastic, textiles, paper, cardboard, wood, ceramics, opaque glasses, semiconductors, and the like. Radiation at longer wavelengths, for example, millimeter waves have better transmissivity than terahertz radiation in these materials but the longer wavelengths are unsuitable for use in high resolution imaging systems. Further, such materials do not have much spectral content, i.e., characteristic absorption lines, in these longer wavelength regions that would allow one to be easily distinguished from another.
Terahertz radiation is not an ionizing radiation, so it does not have the potential to present health problems as would, for example, X-radiation (X-Rays). Terahertz radiation can be propagated for much longer distances in the atmosphere than X-rays, for example, several meters, and does not cause damage to electronic devices and unexposed film. In addition to offering a higher potential resolution in imaging than millimeter waves, terahertz radiation also offers a potential to provide sharper differentiation between different materials superimposed on one another and, accordingly provide higher contrast images than would be possible with millimeter waves.
Terahertz radiation has the potential to be useful in security devices for examining persons, luggage or packages for concealed objects or substances. Such objects and substances could include explosives, guns, knives, drugs, biological agents, and the like. Theses objects or substances could be concealed under a person's clothing, or in non-metallic containers or luggage carried by the person. In order for this potential to be realized there is a need for an adequate terahertz scanning device that can be deployed in airports, train stations, ship ports other transport centers, and public buildings.


The present invention provides an improved static random access memory which can be manufactured into values as designed by photolithography. Second direct contract for connecting active region and ground line for first and second memory cells is provided at a boundary between the first memory cell and second memory cell. Second direct contact is divided into a plurality of portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices, and more specifically, to a static random access memory (hereinafter referred to as SRAM).
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 20 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing an SRAM cell. The SRAM includes six transistors altogether, access transistors 1, 2 and driver transistors 3, 4 formed on a substrate, and load transistors 5, 6 formed of thin film transistors. Access transistor 1 includes a word line 7, and access transistor 2 includes a word line 8. Access transistor 1 is connected to a bit line 9, and access transistor 2 is connected to a bit line 10. In the figure, the portions designated with reference numerals 11, 12 indicate parasitic resistance in a ground line (hereinafter referred to as GND) 43.
The SRAM cell operates as follows.
In reading, voltage is applied to word lines 7, 8 to open the gate. At the time, voltages corresponding to their respective inverter states appear at bit line 9 and bit line 10. In writing, also voltage is applied to word lines 7, 8 to open the gate, and voltage corresponding to a desired state of writing is applied to bit line 9 and bit line 10.
The layout of the equivalent circuit is disclosed in IEDM 91, pp.477-484. FIGS. 21 to 23 show a layout for one conventional SRAM cell. FIG. 22 is drawn on the layout shown in FIG. 21, and the layout shown in FIG. 21 is drawn on the layout shown in FIG. 22. The SRAM includes field oxide films 13, 14, 15, active regions 16, 17, first gates 18, 19, 20, 21 formed of polysilicon or polycide, first direct contacts 22, 23 linking the active regions and the first gates, second gates 24, 25, 26 formed of polysilicon or polycide, and second direct contacts 27, 28, 29, 30 linking the active regions and the second gates.
Referring to FIG. 22, the SRAM includes third gates 31, 32 (to be the gates of TFTS) formed of polysilicon, third direct contacts 33, 34 linking the first gates and the third gates, forth gates 35, 36 (to be the channel/source/drain regions of TFTs) formed of polysilicon, and forth direct contacts 37, 38 linking the third gates and the forth gates.
Referring to FIG. 23, the SRAM includes first metal interconnection layers 39, 40 (bit lines), and contacts 41, 42 linking the second gates and the first interconnection layers.
FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view showing the SRAM in FIGS. 21 to 23 taken along line 24--24.
Referring to FIGS. 20 and 24, access transistor 1 is formed of active region 16 and first gate 18. Access transistor 2 is formed of active region 17 and first gate 19. Driver transistor 3 is formed of active region 17 and first gate 20. A thin film transistor, load transistor 5 is formed of third gate 32, and forth gate (channel/source/drain region) 36. A thin film transistor, load transistor 6 is formed of third gate 31, forth gate (channel/source/drain region) 35. Word line 7 corresponds to first gate 18, and word line 8 corresponds to first gate 19. Bit line 9 corresponds to first metal interconnection layer 39, and bit line 10 corresponds to first interconnection layer 40. The GND lines 43 of the memory cell corresponds to second gate 24. The parasitic resistance 11 of GND corresponds to the resistance of second direct contact 27. The parasitic resistance 12 of GND corresponds to the resistance of second direct contact 28.
Thus structured conventional SRAM is encountered with the following problem.
Referring to FIG. 20, when a reading operation is performed with storage nodes a and b being at Low and High states, respectably column current i is passed from the bit line to GND line 43 through storage node a. At the time, if parasitic resistance 11 is large the Low level of storage node a increases, resulting in destruction of data. Accordingly, in order to keep parasitic resistance 11 small, referring to FIG. 21, second direct contacts 27, 28 are formed in a rectangular form and its area on a plane is set large. In contrast, the second direct contacts 29 and 30 of the bit line portion has a small area on a plane, because the parasitic resistance does not affect the operation.
It was however difficult to form holes of different sizes by photolithography, because with difference in quantities of light, such holes cannot be opened precisely into designed values.
FIG. 25 is a diagram showing two memory cell arrays, designating one memory cell (exclusive of parasitic resistance 11, 12 at GND) as X. A memory cell portion X.sub.a and a memory cell portion X.sub.b are provided adjacent to each other.
Referring to FIG. 25, the parasitic resistance 11, 12 of GND (in other words second direct contacts 27, 28) are shared between cell Xa and adjacent cell Xb. Therefore, in the worst case, column current i for the two cells is passed across parasitic resistance 11, 12, thus increasing the potential on the Low side of storage node and data is likely to be destroyed. Accordingly, second direct contacts 27, 28 must be formed large enough.
Note that "direct contact" herein refers to the one as shown in FIG. 26. Referring to FIG. 26, a connecting portion 102 is connected to portion 100 through a contact hole 101a provided in an interlayer insulating film 101.
For stable memory operation, as described in IEDM 91, pp.481-484 the cell ratio (=driver transistor current/access transistor current) must be large enough. Accordingly, the gate length of a driver transistor is desirably shorter, with its gate width being larger, while the gate length of an access transistor is desired to be long with its gate width being narrow. It is, however, difficult to form two kinds of gates having different gate lengths and gate widths in a memory cell, because they cannot be precisely fabricated into values as designed due to difference in quantities of exposure light in photolithography.
In addition, if the gate width of an access transistor is narrowed, the narrow channel effect occurs, which causing fluctuations of its V.sub.th only in the access transistor.
The size of a direct contact is determined based on the limit of exposure in photolithography (a minimum interval between two patterns), and the minimum width of each interconnection (each gate) is usually substantially equal to the length of a shorter side of a direct contact. Accordingly, when each interconnection is linked with a direct contact, the width of the interconnection is thickened at connecting positions taking into account registration margins for masks. Accordingly, excess spaces must be secured at such connecting positions.
Additionally, in a conventional memory cell, referring to FIG. 24, first direct contact 22, third direct contact 33 and forth direct contact 37 are formed upon each other in the vertical direction, and direct contact portion 37 is in a dented form. Therefore, the hole must be formed deep which makes etching difficult and the presence of steps reduces margins for photolithography.


A fluid ejection assembly includes a platform having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a plurality of fluid feed slots, and a fluid manifold defined therein, and a plurality of fluid ejection devices each mounted on the platform and including an array of drop ejecting elements and a fluid refill slot communicating with the array of drop ejecting elements. The fluid refill slot of each of the fluid ejection devices communicates with at least one of the fluid feed slots of the platform, and the fluid manifold of the platform fluidically couples each of the fluid feed slots with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the platform.

This invention relates generally to inkjet printhead construction, and more particularly, to wide-array inkjet printhead construction.
There are known and available commercial printing devices such as computer printers, graphics plotters and facsimile machines which employ inkjet technology, such as an inkjet pen. An inkjet pen typically includes an ink reservoir and an array of inkjet printing elements, referred to as nozzles. The array of printing elements is formed on a printhead. Each printing element includes a nozzle chamber, a firing resistor and a nozzle opening. Ink is stored in the ink reservoir and passively loaded into respective firing chambers of the printhead via an ink refill channel and ink feed channels. Capillary action moves the ink from the reservoir through the refill channel and ink feed channels into the respective firing chambers. Conventionally, the printing elements are formed on a common substrate.
For a given printing element to eject ink a drive signal is output to such element's firing resistor. Printer control circuitry generates control signals which in turn generate drive signals for respective firing resistors. An activated firing resistor heats the surrounding ink within the nozzle chamber causing an expanding vapor bubble to form. The bubble forces ink from the nozzle chamber out the nozzle opening.
A nozzle plate adjacent to the barrier layer defines the nozzle openings. The geometry of the nozzle chamber, ink feed channel and nozzle opening defines how quickly a corresponding nozzle chamber is refilled after firing. To achieve high quality printing ink drops or dots are accurately placed at desired locations at designed resolutions. It is known to print at resolutions of 300 dots per inch and 600 dots per inch. Higher resolution also are being sought
There are scanning-type inkjet pens and non-scanning type inkjet pens. A scanning-type inkjet pen includes a printhead having approximately 100–200 printing elements. A non-scanning type inkjet pen includes a wide-array or page-wide-array printhead. A page-wide-array printhead includes more than 5,000 nozzles extending across a pagewidth. Such printhead is controlled to print one or more lines at a time.
In fabricating wide-array printheads the size of the printhead and the number of nozzles introduce more opportunity for error. Specifically, as the number of nozzles on a substrate increases it becomes more difficult to obtain a desired processing yield during fabrication. Further, it is more difficult to obtain properly sized substrates of the desired material properties as the desired size of the substrate increases.
In the related matter, cross-referenced above, a scalable wide-array printhead structure is described in which multiple inkjet printhead dies are mounted to a carrier substrate. One of the challenges in forming a wide array printhead with multiple printhead dies is the number of interconnections which occur. Many electrical interconnections are needed. In addition, many ink connections are required to deliver the inks. In a three-color, four inch, wide-array printhead having 34 printhead dies, for example, there are at least 102 fluid interconnections. (i.e., 3×34=102).

Platform including fluid manifold for multiple fluid ejection devices

Hewlett-Packard Devlepment Company, L.P.


A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a base body having a conveyor surface; a separating roller configured to rotate about a first rotation axis parallel to a width direction of the conveyor surface and to convey a sheet downstream in a conveyance direction orthogonal to the width direction; a separating piece opposed to the separating roller and configured to cooperate with the separating roller to separate sheets being conveyed one by one; an attachment member removably attached to the base body at a position at which the attachment member is opposed to the separating roller, so as to form a part of the conveyor surface; a holder holding the separating piece and supported by the attachment member so as to be movable toward and away from the separating roller; and a first urging member provided between the attachment member and the holder for urging the separating piece toward the separating roller.

Technical Field
The following disclosure relates to a sheet conveying apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
There has been known a sheet conveying apparatus having a conveying frame, a separating roller functioning also as a supply roller, a separation piece, a holder, and a spring.
The conveying frame forms a conveying surface on which a sheet is conveyed. The separating roller is disposed above the conveying surface. The separating roller is configured to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to a width direction of the conveying surface for conveying the sheet downstream in a conveyance direction orthogonal to the width direction. The separation piece disposed so as to be opposed to the separating roller and cooperates with the separating roller to separate the sheets one by one. The holder holds the separation piece and is supported by the conveying frame so as to be movable toward and away from the separating roller. The spring is provided between the conveying frame and the holder for urging the separation piece toward the separating roller.
For replacing the separation piece with a new one in the known sheet conveying apparatus, the separation piece and the holder which have been used are removed from a base body of the apparatus. In this instance, the spring is kept held by the conveying frame without being removed. Subsequently, a new separation piece and a new holder are installed on the conveying frame.


The intermediate frequency signal based on the analog television signal and the intermediate frequency signal based on the digital television signal can be supplied to the intermediate frequency circuit without being distorted and with characteristics needed to the transfer of the analog television signal and the digital television signal. The television tuner contains a first SAW filter 29a to which a first intermediate frequency signal is input, a second SAW filter 30a to which a second intermediate frequency signal is input, a distributor 25 inserted between the intermediate frequency amplifier 22 and the first and second SAW filters 29a and 30a. The input port of the distributor 25 is connected to the ground by a reactance element 26, and the reactance value of the reactance element 25 is switched so as to have a conjugation relationship with the reactance component of the respective input impedance of the first and second SAW filters 29a and 30a.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a television tuner being capable of receiving both an analog signal and a digital signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 5 illustrates a conventional television tuner. An analog television signal and a digital television signal are input to a mixer 4 sequentially through an input tuning circuit 1, a high frequency amplifier 2, and an interstage tuning circuit 3. These television signals are mixed with a local oscillating signal supplied from an oscillator 5 to the mixer 4 and are converted into an intermediate frequency signal. Here, the intermediate frequency signal based on the analog television signal is a first intermediate frequency signal and the intermediate frequency signal based on the digital television signal is a second intermediate frequency signal.
The output side of the mixer 4 is connected to an inductance element 5a, and the inductance element 5a is connected to an analog intermediate frequency circuit 13 for processing the first intermediate frequency signal via a first switch diode 6. Similarly, the inductance element 5a is also connected to a digital intermediate frequency circuit 14 for processing the second intermediate frequency signal via a switch diode 7. The first switch diode 6 and the second switch diode 7 are controlled such that the operations of ON/OFF of the two diodes are opposite to each other. In addition, the connection point between the first switch diode 6 and the analog intermediate frequency circuit 13 is grounded by a first capacitive element 8b, and the connection point between the second switch diode 7 and the digital intermediate frequency circuit 14 is grounded by a capacitive element 9b.
In this construction, upon receiving the analog television signal, the first switch diode 6 is turned on, and the first intermediate frequency signal output from the mixer 4 is input to the analog intermediate frequency circuit 13 via the first switch diode 6. At this time, a low pass filter for attenuating the intermediate frequency signal of an adjacent channel is formed by the inductance element 5a and the first capacitive element 8b. Further, since the second switch diode 7 is in the OFF state, the backward interference signal output from the digital intermediate frequency circuit 14 is not input to the analog intermediate frequency signal 13.
On the other hand, upon receiving the digital television signal, the second switch diode 7 is turned on, and the second intermediate frequency signal output from the mixer 4 is input to the digital intermediate frequency circuit 14 via the second switch diode 7. At this time, a low pass filter for attenuating the intermediate frequency signal of an adjacent channel is formed by the inductance element 5a and the second capacitive element 9b. Further, since the first switch diode 6 is in the OFF state, the backward interference signal output from the analog intermediate frequency circuit 13 is not input to the digital intermediate frequency signal 14. (For example, refer to Japanese unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-111905 (FIG. 1))
Since the intermediate frequency signal based on the analog television signal and the intermediate frequency signal based on the digital television signal are input to the analog intermediate frequency circuit 13 and the digital intermediate frequency circuit 14 via the first switch diode 6 and the second switch diode 7, respectively, the respective intermediate frequency signals are distorted by non-linear property of the switch diode.
Further, since only the low pass filter is inserted between the mixer 4 and the analog intermediate frequency circuit 13 or the digital intermediate frequency circuit 14, the transfer characteristics suitable for the respective intermediate frequency signal cannot be obtained.

Television tuner for both analog and digital signal


Polyurethane/ureas including hydrophilic moieties and alkoxysilane groups of formula (I)—X—CO—NR2—Y—Si—(Z)3   (I)where X is O or NR2; R2 is H, C1-C6 alkyl, substituted C1-C6 alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or benzyl; Y is C1-C8 linear and branched alkylene; and Z is an organic group inert to isocyanate groups below 100° C. At least one Z group is an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The polyurethane/urea can be in an aqueous dispersion, which can be used to prepare coatings. The dispersion is prepared by                (ii) reacting an organic polyisocyanate with a high molecular weight polyol, optionally a low molecular weight isocyanate-reactive compound, an isocyanate-reactive compound containing hydrophilic groups, and/or an amine chain extender forming a prepolymer;        (ii) reacting the prepolymer in (i) with a compound of formula (II)OCN—Y—Si—(Z)3   (II)where Y and Z are as defined; and        (iii) dispersing the reaction product in (II) in an aqueous medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aqueous polyurethane/urea dispersions and in particular to such dispersions where the polyurethane/urea contains alkoxysilane groups.
2. Description of Related Art
The production of linear or cross-linked aqueous polyurethane-urea dispersions is known as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,479,310; 4,066,591; 4,092,286; 4,108,814; 4,237,264; and 4,238,378 which describe linear polyurethane-ureas and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,870,684, 4,203,883 and 4,408,008, which describe cross-linked polyurethane-ureas. The aqueous polyurethane-urea dispersions may be used for a wide range of commercial applications such as adhesives or coatings for various substrates including textile fabrics, plastic, wood, glass fibers and metals. Chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, toughness, tensile strength, elasticity and durability are among the many desirable properties of these coatings. In some cases these properties of coatings prepared from aqueous polyurethane-urea dispersions have equaled or even surpassed the performance levels of coatings obtained from solvent-based polyurethane lacquers.
Regardless of the property level which may be obtained for coatings prepared from commercial polyurethane-urea dispersions, there is a continuing need to improve such properties, in particular water resistance, solvent resistance, weather resistance and physical properties such as abrasion resistance. As commercial requirements become more demanding, there is a need in the art to provide adhesives and/or coatings with improved water resistance, solvent resistance, weather resistance, and abrasion resistance.

Aqueous polyurethane/urea dispersions containing alkoxysilane groups


A transmitter unit for emitting radiation into the surrounding area, including at least one semiconductor laser, which has at least one first emitter possessing a first section and a second section; and at least one control unit for controlling the semiconductor laser. The control unit is configured to apply a first supply variable to the first section of the at least one emitter, and to apply a second supply variable differing from the first supply variable, to the second section of the at least one emitter.

The publication PORTNOI, E. L. et al., Superhigh-Power Picosecond Optical Pulses from Q-Switched Diode Laser, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, April, 1997, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 256-260, describes a semiconductor laser, which is operated, using passive Q-switching.
A lidar system, in which a solid-state laser is operated, using passive Q-switching, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,342.

Transmitter unit for emitting radiation into a surrounding area


A system and method is provided for managing verification of configuration item changes. Discovered configuration data associated with a configuration item may be received. A determination may be made regarding whether a change order for the configuration item exists. A determination may be made regarding whether the change order is in a “verification in progress” state. When the change order is in the “verification in progress” state, alignment of the discovered configuration data with the change order may be determined and a verification policy may be determined based on the determined alignment.

The present disclosure relates to the field of configuration management. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to verifying configuration item changes in a configuration management system.
Managing changes to elements of an enterprise (referred to as, "configuration items") is typically performed using a change management system. The change management system uses change orders that contain details of a change to be made to a configuration item. Change orders are put through a change order lifecycle during which change is authorized, executed and verified. A change order usually contains the details of a change stored in free form, national language text, which is for all intents and purposes difficult to parse. If the details are unparseable, the change itself cannot be programmatically verified.

System and method for verifying configuration item changes


A speech information communication system includes a speech recognizer which converts an input speech signal to character code information and speech feature information. The character code information and the speech feature information are transmitted to a receiving side where the received character code information is converted to an output speech signal depending on the received speech feature information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to communication systems, and in particular to a communication system and method for speech information.
2. Description of the Related Art
A widely used one of telecommunications systems is an analog system which uses analog signals to represent information, for example, the classic, voice-based telephone system which is being replaced by the digital communications system. Since digital signals are easily stored and copied, various services including voice message can be provided.
In the case of digital voice communications, transmission of a large amount of voice data may cause delay during interactive conversation between users. In general, users do not tolerate appreciable delay. To overcome such a delay problem, there have been proposed several systems employing speech recognition and speech synthesis techniques.
In Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 60-136450, the digital speech data is converted into character code information by means of speech recognition technique. The character code information is transferred to the destination where the received character code Information is converted back to speech data by means of speech synthesis technique. Since the amount of character code information is munch smaller than that of digital speech data, the real-time interactive conversation may be achieved.
However, since the character code information is converted to the speech data by the speech synthesizer at the receiving side, the same voice reproduced even if different users speak at the sending side. Therefore, the receiver cannot know who is calling. Further, it is difficult to know that a calling party is a different person using a registered name or password.
An object of the present invention is to provide a speech information communication system and method which can easily identify who is calling.
Another object of the present Invention is to provide a speech information communication system and method which can screen calling parties to desired registration data.
According to the present invention, an input speech signal is converted to character code information and speech feature information which are transmitted to a receiving side where they are combined to produce an output signal. In other words, a first converter converts an input speech signal to character code information and speech feature information. The character code Information and the speech feature information are transmitted to a transmission line. A receiver receives character code information and speech feature information from the transmission line and a second converter converts received character code information to an output signal depending on received speech feature information.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the second converter may convert received character code information to an output display signal for displaying the received character code information on screen depending on received speech feature information.
Since the character code information and the speech feature information are both transmitted to the receiving side where they are combined to produce the output signal, the amount of transmission data is reduced and a receiving user can easily identify who is calling.


It is intended to provide methods of producing a chlorine gas having a small bromine content, an aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution having a small bromic acid content, and liquid chlorine having a small bromine content. More specifically, a chlorine gas is produced by a method comprising the steps of: (A) washing a chlorine gas that contains bromine, in a gas washing unit composed of a packed column or a tray tower, wherein the chlorine gas introduced via a lower part of the gas washing unit is brought into counterflow gas/liquid contact with a liquid chlorine introduced via an upper part of the gas washing unit; and (B) taking out a purified chlorine gas thus washed, via the upper part of the gas washing unit, wherein a weight ratio of the chlorine gas and the liquid chlorine introduced in the step (A) is 1/1.0 to 1/0.3.

Conventionally, electrolysis of a salt solution has been performed widely for the purpose of producing chlorine, hydrogen, and caustic soda. Chlorine generated by electrolysis is used in the production of sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid, and liquid chlorine. Since common salt used as a raw material in electrolysis usually contains bromine derived from bromides as impurities, chlorine generated therefrom contains bromine as impurities.
When sodium hypochlorite is produced industrially, the above-described chlorine generated by electrolysis is used as a raw material. Therefore, in the disinfection of drinking water, which is the main purpose for sodium hypochlorite, and the like, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of bromic acid generated with bromine to a certain reference value or below. As a method for reducing the bromine concentration in chlorine to or below a reference value set currently in Japan, a method of washing chlorine having a bromine concentration of not more than 2500 ppm with water containing substantially no bromine, in an amount of one time or more by weight with respect to chlorine, has been disclosed (e.g. JP 59 (1984)-92903 A). With this method, the bromine removal achieved by this method is at a level achieving the purpose with respect to the current reference value of the bromic acid concentration in sodium hypochlorite used in the disinfection of drinking water, etc. However, to achieve the purpose, a large amount of water is necessary for washing chlorine that contains bromine, which results in a large amount of chlorine water containing bromine as a by-product. Therefore, there arises a problem of disposing the by-produced chlorine water. Further, to preparing for the future demand for further reducing the amount of bromic acid remaining in sodium hypochlorite to be used in the disinfection of drinking water, a further technical innovation for reducing bromine contained in a chlorine gas is needed.
On the other hand, in the case where an organic chlorine compound is produced using a chlorine gas that contains bromine, an organic bromine compound generated with bromine as impurities is by-produced. This organic bromine compound has a property of being decomposed more easily by heat or light as compared with chlorine compounds of the same halogen group. Therefore, the organic bromine compound causes a chlorine compound as a product to degrade or discolor, causes an apparatus to be corroded, and functions as a catalyst poison with respect to a catalyst. Thus, bromine in chlorine contaminates a product formed from chlorine, and decreases the reactivity of an intermediate product formed from chlorine, thereby affecting the production of a final product. Recently, in the production of an organic chlorine compound product in particular, such chlorine having a smaller content of bromine as impurities is needed, and a new technique for reducing bromine contained in a chlorine gas is needed.

Method of producing chlorine gas, aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution and liquid chlorine


A test-gas leak detector (1) includes a connection (27) for a device under test, a sniffer, or a leak detector chamber, a high-vacuum pump (2), a test-gas detector (5) that is connected on the intake side of said pumps, and a test-gas conduit (28) leading from the connection of the leak detector (27). The conduit is connected to at least one intermediate stage of the high-vacuum pump (2) in addition to the pre-vacuum zone of the high-vacuum pump (2) via conduit sections (31, 32, 35) and valves (33, 34, 36). A housing (9), in which at least some of the conduits and valves and the high-vacuum pump (2) are integrated, forms part of the leak detector (1) and a detachable slide-in module (51) forms part of the high-vacuum pump. The slide-in module has an external jacket construction (53) comprising passages (58, 61) and when the leak detector (1) is operational, is situated in a receiving opening (52) that is provided in the housing (9).

The present invention relates to test-gas leak detectors.
A leak detector is known from the publication DE 31 24 205 A1. It comprises a high-vacuum pump designed by way of a turbomolecular pump to the inlet of which a test-gas detector is connected, as well as a forevacuum pump. Moreover, the high-vacuum pump is equipped with an intermediate inlet and an outlet. Connected to these connections is a system of conduits which besides the conduits exhibits valves and connections for a device under test and for the forevacuum pump. The components stated are arranged such that the device under test is linked through a first valve to the intermediate inlet of the high-vacuum pump. Moreover, the device under test is connected through a second valve to the inlet of the forevacuum pump. Finally, also the outlet of the high-vacuum pump is connected through a third valve to the inlet of the forevacuum pump.
The construction of the known test-gas leak detector is involved since it consists of a multitude of individual components. Disadvantageous is, moreover, the adaptation of the properties of the test-gas leak detectors to differing leak search methods or devices under test. To this end the high-vacuum pump needs to be replaced by a different type having properties which are adapted to the changed circumstances. This requires that the system of conduits and valves and the test-gas detector be separated from the connections of the high-vacuum pump and thereafter be connected to the connections of the new high-vacuum pump in a vacuum-tight manner. This complexity is all the greater the more intermediate connections the high-vacuum pump has. From U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,240, it is known to equip the high-vacuum pump with several intermediate connections. Embodiments of this kind are lately being used evermore frequently.


A diacetylene derivative was used as a starting material, and was subjected to dilithiation using an organolithium reagent. The resulting product was allowed to react with an excessive amount of chalcogen. Accordingly, an intramolecular cyclization reaction proceeded simultaneously with formation of skeletons of three rings. As a result, a chalcogen-containing fused polycyclic organic material was found to be obtained which has the three rings and a dichalcogenid bond. Further, by subjecting the resulting compound to a dechalcogenation reaction, a heteroacene was found to be obtained in a satisfactory yield. These synthetic techniques have made it possible to synthesize a series of highly planar chalcogen-containing π-electron system materials. Therefore, it is possible to provide (i) a chalcogen-containing fused polycyclic organic material capable of exhibiting excellent charge-transporting properties and (ii) a method for producing the material.

In the field of organic electronics, it is a task of highest priority to develop a material which can be applied to an organic thin-film transistor (TFT) and an organic electroluminescence (EL) element and which exhibits excellent charge-transporting properties, regardless of whether the material is a p-type material or an n-type material. There has been fierce global-scale competition for the development of such a material.
A promising example of the molecular designing of the material is to build a highly planar n-conjugated skeleton, which will realize an effective intermolecular interaction. In fact, pentacene, which is an acenic compound having such a structure, is known to exhibit good charge-transporting properties, and has been studied in a wide range of researches.
The following materials are expected to serve as the material: (i) heteroacenes having a hetero atom introduced therein and (ii) fused polycyclic aromatic compounds having a dichalcogenide bond, which are similar to heteroacenes.
(Patent Document 1)
    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 261794/2001 (Tokukai 2001-261794; published on Sep. 26, 2001)(Non-patent Document 1)    K. Oyaizu, T. Iwasaki, Y. Tsukahara, E. Tsuchida, Macromolecules, 2004, ASAP.(Non-patent Document 2)    S. Naoki, Y. Mazaki, K. Kobayashi, T. Kobayashi, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2, 1992, pp. 765.(Non-patent Document 3)    Y. Mazaki, K. Kobayashi, Tetrahedron Lett. 1989, 30, pp. 3315.(Non-patent Document 4)    K. Kobayashi, Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements, 1989, 43, pp. 187.(Non-patent Document 5)    W. Schroth, E. Hintzsche, H. Viola, R. Winkler, H. Klose, R. Boese, R. Kempe, J. Sieler, Chem. Ber., 1994, 127, pp. 401.(Non-patent Document 6)    W. Schroth, E. Hintzsche, M. Felicetti, R. Spitzner, J. Sicler, R. Kempe, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 1994, 33, pp. 739.(Non-patent Document 7)    W. Schroth, D. Ströhl, I. Thondorf, W. Brandt, M. Felicetti, T. Gelbrich, Tetrahedron, 1995, 51, pp. 8853.(Non-patent Document 8)    W. Schroth, E. Hintzsche, H. Jordan, T. Jende, R. Spitzner, I. Thondorf, Tetrahedron, 1997, 53, pp. 7509.(Non-patent Document 9)    R. D. Adams, B. Captain, J. L. Smith Jr., J. Organomet. Chem., 2004, 689, 65.

Chalcogen-containing fused polycyclic organic material and method for producing same


A system and method is described generally for deforming a surface of a body to alter a fluid flow in order to change the characteristics of the fluid flow about the body.

The description herein generally relates to the field of vehicles utilizing thrust and/or experiencing drag traveling through an environmental media, and more particularly the modification of thrust, turbulence and/or drag. More generally the description relates to the active deformation of a surface to alter the characteristics of the surface to flow or surface to surface interface, by creating a dynamically changing surface geometry.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


According to one embodiment, there is provided a method for auditing shredding data including first count information in a system for auditing shredding data. The audit method includes causing a paper sheet processing apparatus to generate a first MAC based on the first count information using a first MAC generation key, causing the paper sheet processing apparatus to transmit the first count information and the first MAC to a first computing unit, causing the first computing unit to obtain second count information based on the first MAC using a second MAC generation key, causing the first computing unit to compare the first count information and the second count information, and determining an audit result.

A paper sheet processing device that generally sorts paper sheets such as bills and processes the sorted paper sheets such as binding and shredding them using a computer is disclosed. A paper sheet processing device in which a message authentication code (MAC) prevents count information such as the number of paper sheets to be shredded from being falsified is also disclosed.
However, a higher level of security is required to prevent processed data such as count information from being falsified.
Embodiments described herein aim to provide an audit method for paper sheet processed data with improved security against falsification of processed data of paper sheets.

Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation


The convenience of users is improved for a case in which a network is structured by way of performance of a process of sharing communication parameters with other apparatuses.

In wireless communication typified by wireless local area networks (LANs) conforming to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard series, there are many setting items that must be prior to use.
For example, as the setting items, there are communication parameters that are necessary to perform wireless communication, such as a service set identifier (SSID) which is a network identifier, an encryption method, an encryption key, an authentication method, and an authentication key. It is very complicated for a user to manually enter and set these communication parameters.
For this reason, various manufacturers have devised automatic setting methods for easily setting communication parameters in wireless apparatuses. In these automatic setting methods, using a procedure and messages that are determined in advance between apparatuses to be connected to each other, communication parameters are provided from one of the apparatuses to the other apparatus, and setting of the communication parameters is automatically performed.
In NPL, an example of automatic setting of communication parameters is disclosed.
In the automatic setting of communication parameters that is disclosed in NPL, a setting process is started by pressing a setting start button that is provided on an apparatus. While the setting process is being performed, automatic setting is performed between the apparatus and another apparatus in which the setting process is also started.
Furthermore, in PTL, an example of automatic setting of communication parameters among three or more apparatuses is disclosed. Furthermore, in PTL, a configuration is disclosed, in which one apparatus that is to provide communication parameters (hereinafter, referred to as a "providing apparatus") is determined among apparatuses joining in a network, and in which the providing apparatus provides the communication parameters to the other apparatuses (hereinafter, referred to as "receiving apparatuses").

Communication apparatus, control method, and program

Abstract: A process of providing, so that an upper limit number of communication partners is M which is a plural number, communication parameters to a communication partner is performed in accordance with a predetermined operation performed by a user. When the predetermined operation is performed by the user again after the process has been performed, the communication parameters are provided to a communication partner so that an upper limit number of communication partners is one.


A thermally stable refractory coating for iron-based piping and a method of forming the same is provided. The refractory coating comprises from about 30 to about 35 weight percent sodium silicate; from about 31 to about 36 weight percent course silica, about 80 to about 200 mesh; from about 12 to about 16 weight percent fine silica, about 325 to about 400 mesh; from about 1 to about 6 weight percent hydrated aluminum silicate clay; from about 1 to 4 weight percent graphite; from about 0.8 to about 0.9 weight percent sodium aluminate; and, from about 3 to about 5 weight percent magnetite M.S-200.. The invention also concerns a method of forming the above-described coating on iron-based piping.

It is known in the iron and steel industry to use iron-based pipes, or lances, to purge slag material from ladles of molten iron or steel by forcing oxygen into the molten material. Inherent in this process, however, is the problem of degradation and corrosion of the iron-based pipes as a result of the harsh operating environment. For instance, the pipes are partially submerged in molten iron or steel, the temperature of which may be as high as 3200.degree. F. Further, thermal shock and other stresses are encountered, as well as the action of the slag material and molten metal itself which proves to be corrosive.
Consequently, the average life of the typical iron-based pipe used for this procedure is very limited. Others have attempted to correct this problem by coating the pipe with ceramic material. This, however, has drawbacks of its own.
It has now been discovered that a coating of the type described herein can be applied and bonded to iron-based pipe to be used in iron and steel working resulting in the increased life of the pipe. The subject invention concerns a thermally stable coating, for iron-based pipes used in the iron and steel industry, which increases the operable life of the pipes which must function in extremely harsh conditions with respect to high temperature, thermal shock and other various physical, mechanical and chemical stresses.
The coating includes fine and coarse grade silica, clay, binder material, and other various components which form a vitrified, continuous shell over all exposed surfaces of an iron-based pipe, enhancing the life of the pipe by up to as much as seven times that of an uncoated pipe used in the same application.


In a method of operating a ram boring machine having a rotatory-thrust drill rod an impact force is applied to the rear end of the drill rod. The boring machine includes a thrust unit and a striking tool that are combined to form a thrust/percussion aggregate.

Disclosed in European Offenlegungsschrift 0 247 767 is a controllable boring machine for drilling holes in the ground, in particular for laying supply lines such as water pipes or cables beneath streets or embankments or other building structures and obstacles without digging trenches, that consists essentially of a pneumatic or hydraulic drive unit arranged on a mounting which statically pushes a drill rod further and further into the ground and sets it in rotation. At the tip of the drill rod there is a ram boring machine having a percussion piston which can reciprocate in a tubular housing of the machine. The ram boring machine has a head with an oblique face by which the ram boring machine and the drill rod that is pulled along and/or pushed in behind it is steered along a certain radius from the depth of the earth bore made in the ground up to the surface. However, because the ram boring machine and striking tool are arranged ahead of the drill rod it is not possible to prevent the machine, particularly in the case of soft soils, from deviating downwards from the running direction due to its weight, so that frequent correction of the direction is required.
The majority of compressed-air-driven ram boring machines connected at the rear end via supply hoses to a compressed-air source arranged outside of the earth bore are turned on and off by normal shut-off valves, e.g. ball valves. As the length of the hose between the shut-off valve at the compressed-air source and the ram boring machine may be some 20 to 100 m, the pressure in the hose and in the ram boring machine builds up relatively slowly after the shut-off valve is opened. As this occurs the percussion piston can be displaced unfavourably in the ram boring machine so that the front and rear faces of the percussion piston are acted on by the same pressure, so that a dead center position results from which the percussion piston can only be started up by a pulse of compressed air. Furthermore the length of the air column can lead to uncontrollable compression effects, and possibly to self-oscillations of the air column, which make starting up the machine difficult. Moreover the ram boring machine often becomes iced up due to the expansion of the compressed air, which is extremely disadvantageous. Finally, if the ram boring machine at the tip of the drill rod gets stuck in the earth bore due to malfunctioning, there is no other alternative but to dig the ground right up.

Method of operating an earth boring machine

Tracto-Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen KG


Aspects described herein provide for the design and fabrication of a device with an enhanced pyroelectric response signal comprised of multi-capacitors that are connected in series. These capacitors are fabricated using multi-layers of materials such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), BaxSr1-xTiO3 (barium strontium titanate) and Bi4Ti3O12 (bismuth titanate) films that exhibit pyroelectric affect and belong to the class of polar materials. By controlling the poling direction of the multi-layer integrated structure, the pyroelectric voltage can be aligned in one direction, and as a result, the voltage output from the single element is the total contribution from each capacitor.

The pyroelectric effect originates when a pyroelectric material is subjected to a temperature gradient causing a charge to develop across the capacitor's metal electrodes. This temperature gradient results in a current or a voltage signal originating from the material. This is called the pyroelectric effect. The magnitude of these signals is very small and must be monitored with great caution. Un-cooled infrared (IR) pyroelectric detectors make use of this pyroelectric property of a material. Unlike photonic detectors, which are based on semiconductors and must operate at very low temperatures, uncooled pyroelectric detectors do not require cryogenic cooling and can generally operate at room temperature, which is advantageous over photonic detectors requiring cryogenic cooling. Un-cooled detectors are lightweight, compact and have many applications including night vision imagers, gas sensors, human and animal body temperature detectors, alarm systems (fire and intruder), etc. All these devices except the night vision imagers have low density array and they usually operate in either the voltage mode or in the current mode. However, the detection signal is generally at very low levels and requires sophisticated amplification before utilization.
Therefore, what is needed is a pyroelectric capacitor configured to provide signals, either voltage or current, with a sensitivity sufficient for low-density arrays and with a greater signal strength than conventional pyroelectric capacitors. The described invention overcomes many of the challenges found in the art, some of which are described above.

Thin film multi-layered pyroelectric capacitor

The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama


A computing system is provided. The computing system includes a server having one or more processors configured to receive from a user computing device run-time telemetry data, the run-time telemetry data being recorded during execution of a target program of a plurality of programs by the user computing device and being indicative of communication between the user computing device and a user input device. The one or more processors are further configured to determine a performance metric based on the run-time telemetry data, determine an updated driver parameter for the target program based on the determined performance metric, send the updated driver parameter to the user computing device, and apply the updated driver parameter for use during a subsequent execution of the target program.

User input devices are often used with interactive systems such as computers, virtual/augmented reality systems, and gaming systems. Interactive programs that are executed by the interactive system are configured manipulate elements of the interactive programs based in part upon input received from the user input devices. One problem with these interactive systems is that there may be a delay between a manipulation of the user input devices and a corresponding change in elements of the interactive programs. Furthermore, there may be multiple causes of the delay, and the causes may differ between different interactive programs.

Updated driver parameters determined by telemetry data


A donor substrate for a laser induced thermal imaging method and an organic light emitting display (OLED) fabricated using the donor substrate are provided. There is also provided a method of fabricating an OLED capable of controlling static electricity when an organic layer is formed using an laser induced thermal imaging method, since the donor substrate having a conductive layer is electrically connected to an earthed stage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an organic light emitting display and, more particularly, to a donor substrate for a laser induced thermal imaging method capable of controlling static electricity and a method of fabricating an organic light emitting display using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, since an organic light emitting display (OLED) has low voltage driving characteristics, high luminous efficiency, wide viewing angle and rapid response speed to display a high quality moving picture, the OLED is attracting public attention as a next generation flat panel display.
In addition, the OLED is constituted of an organic layer including an organic emission layer disposed between an anode and a cathode. Since the OLED is an emissive display capable of emitting light due to recombination of electrons and holes in the organic emission layer by applying voltage to the two electrodes, the OLED does not require a backlight unit, unlike a liquid crystal display (LCD). Therefore, it is possible to make the OLED in a lightweight and thin type, and using simple processes.
The OLED is classified into a small molecular OLED and a polymer OLED according to the material of the organic layer, in particular, the organic emission layer.
The small molecular OLED includes multiple organic layers having different functions from each other, which are interposed between an anode and a cathode, wherein the multiple organic layers include a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an emission layer, a hole blocking layer and an electron injection layer. These layers may be adjusted by doping to prevent the accumulation of electric charges or replacing with a material having a suitable energy level. The small molecular OLED is generally made by a vacuum deposition method and thus it is difficult to realize a large-sized display.
On the other hand, the polymer OLED has a single layer structure having an organic emission layer interposed between an anode and a cathode or a double layer structure including a hole transport layer in addition to the organic emission layer, and thus may be fabricated into a thin device. In addition, since the organic layer is formed by a wet coating method, the polymer OLED may be fabricated under atmospheric pressure, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and readily realizing the large-sized OLED.
In the case of a monochrome device, the polymer OLED may be simply fabricated by a spin coating method, but has disadvantages of lower efficiency and shorter lifetime compared to the small molecular OLED. In the case of a full color device, emission layers for showing three primary colors of red, green and blue may be patterned in such an OLED to realize the full color. In this case, the organic layer of the low small OLED may be patterned by a shadow mask deposition method, and the organic layer of the polymer OLED may be patterned by an ink jet printing method or a laser induced thermal imaging (hereinafter will be referred to as "LITI") method. The LITI method may utilize spin coating characteristics as they are, thereby resulting in excellent internal uniformity of pixels in the large-sized OLED. In addition, since the LITI method adopts a dry process instead of a wet process, the LITI method may prevent lifetime reduction by solvent as well as realize a fine pattern in the organic layer.
Application of the LITI method basically needs a light source, an OLED substrate (hereinafter will be referred to as "substrate") and a donor substrate, wherein the donor substrate includes a base layer, a light-to-heat conversion layer and a transfer layer.
According to the LITI method, light emitted from the light source is absorbed by the light-to-heat conversion layer to convert the light into heat energy, so that an organic material formed on the transfer layer is transferred onto the substrate by the converted heat energy.
Methods of forming a pattern of an OLED using the LITI method are disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0342653, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,998,085, 6,214,520 and 6,114,085.
FIGS. 1A to 1C are cross-sectional views illustrating processes of patterning an organic layer using an LITI method.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a substrate 10 is prepared, and a donor substrate 20 including a base layer 21, a light-to-heat conversion layer 22, and a transfer layer 23 is laminated on the substrate 10.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, a laser X is irradiated on a first region (a) in the base layer 21 of the donor substrate 20. The laser passed from the base layer 21 is converted to heat in the light-to-heat conversion layer 22, and the heat makes an adhesion between the first region (a) and the light-to-heat conversion layer 22 weak.
Continuously, as shown in FIG. 1C, the transfer layer, at which the adhesion is weakened, i.e., the transfer layer corresponding to the first region (a) is transferred onto the substrate 10 to form an organic layer 23a on the substrate 10, and a transfer layer (b), i.e., the transfer layer corresponding to a second region (b) where the laser is not irradiated, is separated together with the donor substrate, thereby forming a patterned organic layer 23a.
However, in forming the patterned organic layer using the LITI method, static electricity may be generated due to external environmental factors such as friction and so on during attachment and detachment processes of the donor substrate and the substrate. Since discharge voltage of this static electricity has a range of about several thousands to several ten thousands, the static electricity may cause defects such as a short-circuit at adhesion parts, or melting of metal or separation of wiring due to a temperature increase in the device, and therefore device characteristics may be deteriorated due to influence affecting to an inner circuit of the device.

Donor substrate for laser induced thermal imaging method, method of fabricating the donor substrate, and method of fabricating organic light emitting display using the donor substrate


The invention is directed to an operating method for an image-sensing unit and the image-sensing device using the same. The image-sensing unit comprises a photogate, a photodiode assembled with the photogate, and a first switch. One terminal of the first switch is coupled to a reference voltage, and the other terminal thereof is coupled to the photodiode. The operating method comprises: (a)Applying a first voltage to the photogate, (b)Turning on a first switch, (c)Turning off the first switch at a first time, (d)The photodiode being irradiated by a light, (e)Stopping applying a first voltage value to the photogate at a second time, (f)Applying a second voltage to the photogate at a third time, and (g)Maintaining the turn-off state of the first switch until a fourth time. The operating method for an image-sensing unit enables the image-sensing device using the same to enhance the dynamic range thereof.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an operation of image-sensing unit and image-sensing device using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an operation of image-sensing unit and image-sensing device using the same capable of increasing the dynamic range of the image-sensing units.
2. Description of Related Art
There are more and more electronic products with built-in camera functions, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and toys. With the rapid development of electronic technology, the image sensors have gradually replacing the traditional films as major image sensing elements. The purpose of the image sensors is to convert light signals to electronic signals. A lot of the image sensors available in the market now use built-in photodiodes for acquiring light signals.
FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a conventional image sensor. Please refer to FIG. 1. The image sensor 100 comprises a reference voltage Vcc, a photodiode 120, a first switch 130, a source follower 140, a second switch 180 and a memory circuit 160. The first switch 130, the source follower 140, and the second switch 180 can be transistors. The photodiode 120 and the source follower 140 are both electrically coupled to the first switch 130, and the diode 120 and the source follower 140 are both electrically coupled to the reference voltage Vcc. The first switch 130 is disposed between the diode 120 and the reference voltage Vcc. Besides, the gate of the source follower 140 is electrically coupled between the first switch 130 and the photodiode 120. The memory circuit 160 of the image sensor is used to record the variation of the output voltage Vout of the second switch 180, which is proportional to the voltage value of the gate of the source follower 140. The operation procedure of the image sensor 100 is discussed in detail below.
FIG. 2 schematically shows the variation of the output voltage of FIG. 1 in an operation cycle of an image sensor. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. As the operation cycle begins, the switch 130 is turned on. The voltage V1 of the photodiode 120 and the voltage value of the source follower 140 will be equal to the reference voltage Vcc. The switch 130 is then turned off at a first time T2, and the outer light 150 irradiates the photodiode 120 via lenses (not shown). Due to illumination of the light 150, the photo current is generated by the photodiode 120 and therefore the voltage V1 of the photodiode is lowered. Consequently, the voltage of the gate of source follower 140 reduces, too. Meanwhile, the output voltage Vout changes according to the voltage variation of the gate of source follower 140. Later, at the second time T2, again the first switch is turned on to start a new cycle. The output voltage of first time T1 and that of the second time T2 are recorded by the memory circuit 160, and by altering the difference in between, the image sensor can determine the intensity of outer light 150.
Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. It can be found that, the more intense the outer light 150 is, the faster the output voltage Vout decreases. When the output voltage Vout drops to zero before the second time T2, the image sensor 100 is unable to determine the intensity of outer light 150. Therefore, there is a limit of the dynamic range for the image sensor 100 (Dynamic Range=the maximum intensity of light detectable by the image sensor/the minimum intensity of light detectable by the image sensor).

Operating method of image-sensing unit and image-sensing device using the same


A compressing method of image data is carried out by a first process of dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks, a second process of linearly scanning the image data within the block by a given scan method defining a pattern of linearly scanning the image data of the block so as to arrange the image data in series, and a third process of compressing the arranged image data so as to reduce an amount of the image data of the block. The second process and the third process are repeatedly applied to the same block with using different scan methods defining different patterns of linearly scanning the image data, then an optimum one of the different scan methods is selected, which succeeds in most reducing the amount of the image data, and the compressed image data arranged by the selected scan method is outputted together with indication of the selected scan method.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compression method of highly efficiently compressing color image data, a decompression apparatus and a decompression program to decompress back the image data compressed by the compression method to the original color image data.
2. Prior Art
There are known the following methods as conventional methods of compressing color image data.
(1) Cell Reference Method and Line Reference Method
These methods are effective for a solid picture composed of pixels or dots having the same color code, but cannot improve the compression ratio if there are no preceding or succeeding dots having the same color code. Further, these methods are incapable of irreversible or lossy compression and highly efficient compression of RGB image data.
(2) Dictionary Method
A large dictionary is needed for improving the reproducibility of the image data. This method complies with the reversible or lossless compression like the cell reference method and the line reference method, and is therefore incapable of the irreversible or lossy compression and highly efficient compression of RGB image data.
(3) DCT Transform+Huffman Coding (JPEG: Joint Photographic image Coding Experts Group)
Since this method forms a block of 8×8 dots size to perform the DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform), a block-based distortion becomes more apparent as the compression ratio increases. Since a sine wave is essentially used for approximation, it is impossible to delicately approximate an edgy portion such as an animation image. Further, since a Huffman table is needed for Huffman coding, processing such as table referencing is disadvantageous to the use of hardware. In addition, this method is incapable of lossless compression of indexed image data based on the color palette transform.
(4) Wavelet Transform+Arithmetic Coding (JPEG2000)
The two-dimensional wavelet transform for image compression requires a memory equivalent to the total pixel size as a buffer. Accordingly, this method is inappropriate for the use of hardware components and consumes a long conversion time. The arithmetic coding requires complicated operations and is subject to time-consuming decoding especially for the bit-plane-based coding such as JPEG2000. The wavelet transform uses the image correlation like the DCT, and is therefore unsuitable for lossless compression of indexed image data.

Compression and decompression method of image data


Apparatuses and methods for applying EM energy to a load are provided. The apparatuses and methods may include at least one processor configured to receive information indicative of energy dissipated by the load for each of a plurality of modulation space elements. The processor may also be configured to associate each of the plurality of modulation space elements with a corresponding time duration of power application, based on the received information. The processor may be further configured to regulate energy applied to the load such that for each of the plurality of modulation space elements, power is applied to the load at the corresponding time duration of power application.

Heating objects using high frequency radiation is wide spread, and comprises the commonly used domestic microwave (MW) oven, as well as commercial ovens that use MW energy, mainly in combination with other means of heating, such as steam, hot air and infrared heating elements.
Among the many problems associated with known MW ovens is a lack of uniformity in heating, which often results in hot spots and cold spots that reflect the standing wave within the cavity. Many of the attempts to improve uniformity in such devices included increasing the number of modes within the cavity (e.g. by mode stirring and/or moving the load during heating).
In some cases, where multiple frequencies were used, the devices were configured to measure the efficiency of energy transfer into the cavity at different transmitted frequencies and then to transmit energy to the load only at frequencies having a relatively high efficiency, with the intent that this should increase the efficiency of energy transfer into the load.
Heating an object changes its dissipation characteristics at different frequencies. For example, a frequency that is dissipated in the load at one rate before heating may dissipate at a different rate (higher or lower) after some heating or movement of the load took place.

Device and method for controlling energy


A mixing chamber includes a container for receiving a first and a second component; an obstacle structure, which is designed such that, under the effect of a centrifugal force or magnetic force acting on the mixing chamber, it moves through the first and second components in the container and mixes them with each other; and a connection piece, which is connected at one end to the container and at the other end to the obstacle structure.

The present disclosure relates to a mixing chamber, cartridge, and method for mixing a first and a second component.
The document DE 30 36 538 C2, for example, describes a swivel beaker centrifuge for centrifuging blood. The purpose of such centrifuges is to separate substances in the centrifuge material space using mass inertia: particles or liquids of greater density migrate outward as a result of the greater inertia. In doing so, they displace the constituents of lower density, which in this way arrive at the center.

Mixing chamber, cartridge, and method for mixing a first and a second component


A method and apparatus for performing complex arithmetic is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises decoding a single instruction, and in response to decoding the single instruction, moving a first operand occupying lower order bits of a first storage area to higher order bits of a result, moving a second operand occupying higher order bits of a second storage area to lower order bits of the result, and negating one of the first and second operands of the result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of computer systems, and specifically, to a data manipulation instruction for enhancing value and efficiency of performing complex arithmetic instructions.
2. Background Information
To improve the efficiency of multimedia applications, as well as other applications with similar characteristics, a Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) architecture has been implemented in computer systems to enable one instruction to operate on several operands simultaneously, rather than on a single operand. In particular, SIMD architectures take advantage of packing many data elements within one register or memory location. With parallel hardware execution, multiple operations can be performed on separate data elements with one instruction, resulting in a significant performance improvement. The SIMD architecture applies to both integer and floating-point operands.
The SIMD data format of packing data elements within a register or memory location is a natural format for representing complex data. That is, first and second data elements of an operand may comprise real and imaginary components of the complex number, respectively. Many applications require the multiplication of complex numbers such as, for example, signal processing applications. To increase the efficiency of these applications, it is therefore desirable to reduce the number of instructions required for performing a complex multiply.
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for performing complex arithmetic. In one embodiment, a method comprises decoding a single instruction, and in response to decoding the single instruction, moving a first operand occupying lower order bits of a first storage area to higher order bits of a result, moving a second operand occupying higher order bits of a second storage area to lower order bits of the result, and negating one of the first and second operands of the result.

Data manipulation instruction for enhancing value and efficiency of complex arithmetic


A cryogenic oil-free direct drive turbogenerator for gas liquefaction plant applications is described. The pressure energy from cryogenic gas is expanded through a turbine and the power generated is converted into electricity through a directly driven generator and a power electronics arrangement. The machinery can withstand very cold temperature operation (e.g., <−425° F.) by isolating the cold turbine side from the warmer side of the machine turbine end and has a hermetically sealed design wherein the process gas is fully contained from leaking at operating pressures. A unique gas injection scheme uses seal gas segregation, thrust bearing cooling and pressure balance for thrust control which is accomplished through a pressure regulator arrangement. Also described is an algorithm for speed control and overspeed protection through the power electronics system. The rotating components of the turbogenerator are supported on foil gas bearings for oil-free operation eliminating extraneous lubrication.

Expansion turbines are the most critical rotating component of cryogenic gas liquefaction plants to liquefy the gas energy efficiently. The expansion turbines expand the compressed process gas and produce cryogenic gas by removing energy from the gas using a turbine and an associated rotating assembly. The extracted energy can be recovered back as compression energy using a compressor or converted into electricity using a generator. Hence, a turbine can have a loading mechanism that can be a compressor or a generator.
Efficiency of expansion turbines are critical due to the cost of compression to produce the cryogenic gas. In lighter molecules, like Helium gas, the energy requirement of compression can be 25 units to produce 1 unit of cooling. Current state-of-the-art expansion turbines have poor energy recovery methods using compressors and gearbox/generator arrangements. Traditional expansion turbines are typically compressor-loaded due to the need for an expensive gearbox arrangement for generator-loaded designs. However, compressor-loaded expansion turbines are not widely desired due to high installation costs and complex process cycle requirements to integrate the compression power back into the process loop.
Additionally, traditional expansion turbines generally require lubricants to enable high-speed operation of the rotating assembly to achieve optimum efficiency. Further, the oil lubricant can leak into process due to system failures and operator errors and cause serious damages to cold box.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for expansion turbine technology which can convert the recovered shaft power from the cryogenic process gas to electricity without a need for gearbox. Additionally, there is a need for expansion turbine technology that does not require lubricants, such as oil, to enable high-speed operation, whereby such lubricants risk process gas contamination. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide expansion turbine technology, such as a turbine-driven generator, for use in cryogenic gas plants for liquefaction of process gases such as hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, natural gas, etc., that enables efficient, reliable, oil-free and hermetically-sealed cryogenic liquefaction of industrial gases. Gas foil bearings used in the present invention are lubricated by the process gas itself, so there is no possibility of the above-mentioned contamination typically associated with prior art turbomachinery and the drawbacks associated therewith. The present invention provides an innovation to overcome the loading hurdles, operating at cryogenic temperature without any oil contamination of the process gas, and other drawbacks associated with prior art designs.

Cryogenic oil-free direct drive turbogenerator


A vehicle collision detecting system includes an impact sensor, a distance sensor for detecting a distance to an obstacle, a differential circuit for differentiating the distance to provide a relative speed, and a microcomputer for computing a distance after a time, based on the detected distance and the relative speed, and determining whether the computed distance becomes zero within a predetermined time. If the calculated distance becomes zero within the predetermined time, a collision unavoidable signal is generated. A collision signal or air bag activating signal is then generated as soon as an impact is detected by the impact detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle collision detecting system used for activating, for example, an air bag system of vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
An air bag system protects passengers in a vehicle by inflating air bags when the vehicle has collided.
FIG. 4 shows a prior art vehicle collision detecting system for such air bag system. In the figure, front impact detecting sensors 1 and 2 are provided at the front portion of a vehicle and impact detecting safety sensors 3 and 4 are provided within a diagnostic unit 5. FIG. 5 is a connection diagram of those sensors 1 through 4, and the sensors 1 and 2 and the sensors 3 and 4 are arranged in parallel respectively and these sensors 1 and 2 and the sensors 3 and 4 are arranged in series to an inflator 6.
The front sensors 1 and 2 are switched ON when an acceleration of, for example, more than 10 to 15 G (G: gravitational acceleration) is detected and the safety sensor 3 and 4 are switched ON when an acceleration of 2 to 3 G is detected. The safety sensors 3 and 4 are provided to determine whether an impact is a collision and to expand an air bag 7 only when both the sensor 1 or 2 and the sensor 3 or 4 are switched ON, because the sensors 1 and 2 may be switched ON even by such a degree of impact as hit by a hammer.
Japanese Patent Laid-open NO. Hei 2-218988 describes a method for predicting a collision by dividing a distance from a foregoing vehicle by a difference of relative speeds with the foregoing vehicle.
In the aforementioned prior art air bag system, however, the inflator 6 is not ignited and activated during the time period between when the sensor 1 or 2 is switched ON and when the sensor 3 or 4 is switched ON, so that the expansion of the air bag is delayed to that extent. Although an air bag for the driver's seat may be expanded so that a driver is fully protected using a small capacity inflator even if the activation of the inflator is delayed more or less since the volume of the air bag is small, the air bag for the assistant driver's seat requires an inflator having a large capacity, since the volume of the air bag is large, to rapidly inflate the large air bag to securely protect the passenger. Accordingly, it has become a factor for increasing the cost of the system.
By the way, in order to rapidly expand the air bag, the air bag has to be strong so that it can sustain an impact applied thereto when the expansion is completed. Accordingly, it has become another factor for increasing the cost.
The aforementioned method for predicting a collision by dividing a distance from a foregoing vehicle by a difference of relative speeds cannot be utilized for the vehicle collision detecting system for the air bag system as it is since its prediction reliability is too low.