A substrate processing apparatus does not allow sudden boiling of supplementary liquid but rather sufficiently diffuses the supplementary liquid into processing liquid so that the temperature of the processing liquid does not decrease largely. De-ionized water (PW) is ejected through a plurality of de-ionized water blow-off openings (Ha) which are formed in a de-ionized water injection nozzle (10a). Inside an internal bath (1), which is located immediately below the de-ionized water blow-off openings, and close to a overflow part (20a) which is a top edge of a side surface (1a) of the internal bath (1), the de-ionized water reaches the surface of a phosphoric acid solution (PA). The de-ionized water thereafter reaches a gutter part (30a) of an external bath (2), as it is mixed with the phosphoric acid solution (PA), and flows into a reservoir part (30d) of the external bath (2). Since the de-ionized water (PW) never reaches inside the phosphoric acid solution (PA) within the internal bath (1), sudden boiling of the de-ionized water (PW) is prevented. The phosphoric acid solution (PA) and the de-ionized water (PW) are stirred up when the phosphoric acid solution (PA) flows over from the internal bath (1) into the external bath (2), and therefore, the de-ionized water (PW) is sufficiently diffused into the phosphoric acid solution (PA). As this does not keep the de-ionized water (PW) at the surface of the phosphoric acid solution (PA), the de-ionized water (PW) does not evaporate directly from the surface of the phosphoric acid solution (PA), a decrease in the temperature of the phosphoric acid solution (PA) is small.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus which dips a substrate, such as a semiconductor substrate and a liquid crystal glass substrate, into processing liquid to thereby perform surface processing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus which stores processing liquid consisting of a plurality types of liquid in a processing bath, and heats the processing liquid to a temperature which is equal to or higher than a boiling temperature of at least one of the plurality of types of liquids consisting the processing liquid, and dips a substrate into the processing liquid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During etching of a silicon nitride film which is formed at a surface of a semiconductor substrate using a phosphoric acid solution (H.sub.3 PO.sub.4) of a high temperature, for example, a change not only in the temperature of the phosphoric acid solution but also in the concentration of the phosphoric acid solution changes an etching rate, thereby resulting in an uneven processing result. Hence, it is necessary to maintain the temperature and the concentration of the phosphoric acid solution within a tolerable range.
However, as it is necessary to keep the phosphoric acid solution at a high temperature around 150.degree.-180.degree. C. during such an etching process, moisture in the solution easily evaporates and accordingly increases the concentration of the phosphoric acid solution, whereby the etching rate is changed and a processing result becomes uneven.
To deal with this, the following four types of methods have been principally used to appropriately add de-ionized water to the phosphoric acid solution during etching.
1. The method described in Japanese Utility Model Laid Open Official Gazette No. 2-98631, which requires to dispose a nozzle having a wall member which is perforated with a number of very fine through holes in a lower portion of a processing bath which is filled with a phosphoric acid solution, so as to supply de-ionized water to the phosphoric acid solution through the nozzle. PA1 2. The method described in Japanese Patent Publication Official Gazette No. 3-20895, which requires to supply de-ionized water to a circulation line which circulates a phosphoric acid solution by leading the phosphoric acid solution which is contained in a processing bath to adjust the temperature of the phosphoric acid, filtering the phosphoric acid solution, and returning the phosphoric acid solution into the processing bath once again. PA1 3. The method described in Japanese Utility Model Laid Open Official Gazette No. 59-84839, which requires to supply de-ionized water through a hole which is formed in a bottom portion of a processing bath. PA1 4. The method described in Japanese Patent Laid Open Official Gazette No. 6-69179, which requires to use a double bath consisting of an internal bath for etching and an external bath which surrounds the same, to always let a phosphoric acid solution flow over into the external bath from the internal bath, and to supply de-ionized water into the phosphoric acid solution stored in the external bath from above the external bath, so that the phosphoric acid solution containing the de-ionized water circulates into the internal bath.
By the way, among the de-ionized water supplying methods described above, the methods 1, 2 and 3 inject de-ionized water into the phosphoric acid solution and hence may cause abrupt boiling of the de-ionized water within the phosphoric acid solution upon injecting of the de-ionized water into the phosphoric acid solution.
Meanwhile, since the method 4 supplies de-ionized water to the surface of the phosphoric acid solution which is stored in the external bath, the de-ionized water stays at the surface of the phosphoric acid solution rather than diffusing into the phosphoric acid solution. Further, as the de-ionized water evaporates from the surface of the phosphoric acid solution, the temperature of the phosphoric acid solution remarkably decreases due to heat of vaporization.

Method of and an apparatus for processing a substrate


A washing water inlet for receiving washing water is provided on an upper surface at one end of a case main body in a fluid heating device, and a washing water outlet for feeding heated washing water to a pump is provided on an upper surface at the other end of the case main body. A linear sheathed heater is arranged so as to penetrate the case main body. A spring is spirally wound around an outer peripheral surface of the sheathed heater. An outer peripheral surface of the sheathed heater, the spring, and an inner peripheral surface of the case main body form a flow path. The flow path is formed in a spiral shape with the length of the case main body used as its axis.

Conventionally in sanitary washing apparatuses that wash the private parts of the human bodies, there are provided heating devices that heat washing water used for washing to suitable temperatures in order not to give uncomfortable feelings to the human bodies. Examples of the sanitary washing apparatuses comprising such heating devices include hot water storage type sanitary washing apparatuses or instantaneous heating type sanitary washing apparatuses.
The hot water storage type sanitary washing apparatuses comprise hot water tanks previously storing predetermined amounts of washing water as well as heating the washing water to predetermined temperatures by heaters contained therein (see JP 2003-106669 A), and employ methods of feeding by pressure the washing water previously heated to the predetermined temperatures within the hot water tanks by tap water pressure or pumps or the like to spray the washing water from nozzles.
FIG. 39 is a schematic sectional view of a hot water tank unit in a conventional hot water storage type sanitary washing apparatus. The hot water tank unit in the hot water storage type sanitary washing apparatus is disclosed in JP 2002-322713 A.
As shown in FIG. 39, in the hot water tank unit, a thermistor 904 detects the temperature of washing water within a hot water tank 901 through a heat sensitive plate 903. A control circuit 905 instructs a hot water heater 902 provided within the hot water tank 901 to apply heat on the basis of the temperature detected by the thermistor 904.
Washing water previously stored in the hot water tank 901 can be heated and stored by the hot water tank unit. In the hot water tank unit, the temperature of washing water can be transmitted to the thermistor 904 irrespective of the posture of the hot water tank by providing the heat sensitive plate 903 extending from an upper part to a lower part of the hot water tank 901, whereby boil-dry of the hot water tank can be prevented.
In this hot water storage type sanitary washing apparatus, however, washing water within the hot water tank must previously continue to be maintained at a predetermined temperature until the private parts of the human body are washed. Therefore, power must be always supplied to the heating device so that power consumption is increased. When a plurality of persons continuously wash their private parts and previously use washing water whose amount is not less than the amount of the washing water heated to the predetermined temperature within the hot water tank, the temperature of the washing water within the hot water tank is lowered to not more than the predetermined temperature, giving the human bodies uncomfortable feelings.
On the other hand, the instantaneous heating type sanitary washing apparatuses employ methods of instantaneously heating washing water to predetermined temperatures by heating devices superior in temperature rise speed and feeding by pressure washing water utilizing tap water pressures or using pumps or the like to spray the washing water from nozzles when they wash the private parts of the human bodies.
Therefore, power need not be always supplied to the heating device so that power consumption is small. Even when a plurality of persons continuously wash their private parts and previously use washing water whose amount is not less than the amount of the washing water heated to the predetermined temperature within the hot water tank, the temperature of the washing water within the hot water tank is not lowered to not more than the predetermined temperature, not to give the human bodies uncomfortable feelings.
Heating devices having both the respective configurations of the hot water storage type sanitary washing apparatuses and the instantaneous heating devices have been developed. The heating device having both the respective configurations of the hot water storage type sanitary washing apparatus and the instantaneous heating device is disclosed in JP 2003-106669 A.
FIG. 40 is a schematic view of a conventional heating device having both the respective configurations of a hot water storage type sanitary washing apparatus and an instantaneous heating device.
As shown in FIG. 40, washing water is stored in a hot water tank 982 from an introduction port 980. A communication pipe 983 is provided within the hot water tank 980, so that washing water flows to a heating chamber 984 provided within the hot water tank 980 through the communication pipe 983. A cylindrical heater 986 is provided within the heating chamber 984, so that washing water flows to a washing nozzle 987 while being heated by the cylindrical heater 986. Consequently, hot water is sprayed from the washing nozzle 987.
In this heating device, the heating chamber 984 is provided within the hot water tank 980, so that the washing water within the hot water tank 980 is previously heated to a predetermined temperature. The washing water is heated again by the heater 986 before being sprayed from the washing nozzle 987. Thus, power can be reduced, and washing water suitably heated can be sprayed.
However, the heating device is difficult to miniaturize.
A ceramic heater is generally used as the heating device in the sanitary washing apparatus. The ceramic heater is disclosed in JP 10-160249 A.
FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional ceramic heater.
As shown in FIG. 41, a ceramic heater 952 is provided so as to divide a tank 954 into two parts. The ceramic heater 952 is provided with a plurality of projection plates 953 so that a flow path snaked along the ceramic heater 952 is formed. Thus, it is possible to realize a hot water device having high heat exchange efficiency and superior in control response.
However, the ceramic heater is difficult to miniaturize.
A heating device that can be miniaturized, as compared with the ceramic heater, has been developed. The heating device is disclosed in JP 2001-279786 A.
FIG. 42 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional heating device.
As shown in FIG. 42, the heating device has a double pipe structure comprising a cylindrical base material pipe 961 and an outer cylinder 962. A heater 963 is provided outside the base material pipe 961. A helical core 965 is inserted into the base material pipe 961. Washing water is heated by the heater 963 while flowing between the helical core 965 and the base material pipe 961. As a result, washing water suitably heated by a small-sized heating device can be supplied In the heating device, however, heat from the heater 963 is radiated toward the outside of the base material pipe 961, so that heat exchange efficiency is not high. Since the helical core 965 is provided inside the heater 963, there is such a limitation that the helical core 965 must be formed of a thermally solid material.
In recent years, hot water has been put in a washing tub to do washing even in a clothes washing apparatus. In the conventional clothes washing apparatus, two water supply valves are disposed. One of the water supply valves is connected to a water facet as a water supply-side water supply valve, and the other water supply valve is connected to a water heater as a hot water supply-side water supply valve. In the conventional clothes washing apparatus, there are states where the temperature of hot water greatly varies depending on the capability of the water heater, the water temperature of tap water, and so on, and the temperature of hot water during hot water supply is not stabilized. As a result, when the water pressure is reduced so that the temperature of hot water is too raised, clothes may be damaged by heat. Therefore, a clothes washing apparatus capable of stably supplying hot water having a set temperature even if the temperature of the hot water in a water heater or the temperature of tap water varies is disclosed in JP 5-161781 A.
FIG. 43 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional clothes washing apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 43, the clothes washing apparatus is provided with a tap water-side water supply valve 984 for supplying washing water to a washing tub 981 from a water facet and a hot water supply-side water supply valve 985 for supplying washing water as hot water to the washing tub 981 from a water heater.
The clothes washing apparatus is provided with a thermistor 983 for detecting the water temperature within the washing tub 981, and a heater 982 for adjusting the water temperature within the washing tub 981 is provided below the washing tub 981.
When the temperature of hot water within the washing tub 981 is lower than a desired temperature, therefore, it is possible to adjust the temperature of the hot water by the heater 982 or supply hot water from the hot water supply-side water supply valve 985. When the temperature of hot water within the washing tub 981 is higher than a desired temperature, it is possible to supply water from the tap water-side water supply valve 984. As a result, the water temperature within the washing tub 981 can be changed to a predetermined temperature.
In the clothes washing apparatus, however, it takes a long time to boil water by the heater 982, so that a washing time period is lengthened. As a result, the washing performance of the clothes washing apparatus is reduced.

Fluid heating device and cleaning device using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system, method, and computer program product for performing edits on related curves by automatically defining an associative entity that is upstream of either curve being connected. The connecting entity is called an ‘intermediary’. When creating a connection between curves, irrespective of where they appear in the associative tree, their geometry is made dependent on a common intermediary that is placed upstream of both curves in the tree. With this structure, both curves are related to the intermediary but retain all the properties of being connected to each other. Any edit performed to either curve is redirected through the intermediary such that both curves are simultaneously modified, providing the user with bi-directional propagation of edits. The user does not need to keep track of the order that the curves were related.

The computer has greatly affected essentially all forms of information management, including the graphical editing and computer aided design and drafting (CAD) tools. Some simpler geometric modeling computer program products are two dimensional, providing only length and width dimensions of objects, while more complex and powerful computer program products provide three dimensional editing and visualization.
Three dimensional geometric modeling programs can generate a scene or part which can comprise one or more constituent 3D solid shapes. For example, a scene featuring a simple table would comprise a solid shape for each leg of the table, as well as a solid shape for a flat table top. The geometric modeling computer program typically has an executable object used to define and generate each solid shape. The object for each solid shape can have several components, the components being a combination of executable code and data structure. For example, a boundary representation ("B-rep") component includes a data structure describing the geometry and topology data for the solid shape (e.g., length, width, depth, and coordinates of the solid part).
Most three dimensional geometric modeling programs employ a feature-based parametric modeling technique. In feature-based parametric modeling, the executable object for each solid shape has not only a boundary representation component, but also a history or creation component, referred to herein as a "feature tree," which includes a data structure reflecting how a solid shape has been created. That is, the feature tree includes data which indicates an order or chronological sequence of steps employed to construct the solid shape. For a simple solid block, for example, the history may indicate that the solid block began as a simple two dimensional rectangle that was extruded into a third dimension. U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,310, incorporated herein by reference, discloses solid shapes having various other components in addition to boundary representation and historical components: a visual component; a physical component; a functional component; and a behavioral component. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,392,645, incorporated herein by reference, describes a method of converting between a feature-based data structure and a direct-face data structure in graphical modeling.
Typically, when the user wants to modify a feature-based solid shape by changing any aspect of the solid shape, the feature-based parametric modeling technique re-evaluates the entire solid shape, e.g., goes through the entire CGS feature tree in order to revise the part in accordance with the change. For example, if the user wanted to lengthen the table top of the table described above, another solid shape would be added adjacent to the previous table top. In so adding another solid shape corresponding to the increased length of the table top, another step is added to the CSG history. Alternatively, the user may modify the 2D profile of the table top and let the program to re-evaluate the solid shape of the table.
Construction of surfaces involves setting up networks of connected curves that are interpolated by the surfaces. The surface shape is manipulated by modifying the surface or, in some systems, the underlying curves.
There are three major approaches to editing curve networks in existing solutions:                In an associative modeling system, curves are created sequentially, with curves occurring later in the model referencing geometry from curves earlier in the model. Associative relationships update the curves, ensuring geometric connectivity when upstream curves are changed. The order in which the curves are related is implicitly defined by their position in the associative tree. The curves higher up in the tree drive the downstream curves. An upstream curve cannot be edited by connecting to a downstream curve, as that would create associative dependency loops. Typically, to prevent users from creating dependency loops, the software will automatically hide downstream geometry during editing of upstream curves, resulting in the user losing the context of his changes.        In some associative modeling systems, curves are grouped into curve networks that have local relationships. The relation of the curve network to entities outside of the group is similar to the above behavior. Though curves within a network can be simultaneously edited, there are similar limitations when relating to geometry outside the curve network.        In non-associative systems, the curves in a model have no explicit or implicit ordering. The curves do not have any relationships to each other but for their geometric connectivity. Curves are connected by snapping the geometry to significant points on other curves without creating relationships. Editing of a curve does not automatically update connected curves, resulting in adjacent curves disconnecting. All curves have to be individually modified to ensure geometric connectivity.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for an improved system and method for editing curve networks in associative modeling systems.

Bi-directional propagation in a curve network


A circuit for adjusting a switching threshold of a touch probe, which has a touch element that can be deflected out of a position of repose and which upon a deflection of the touch element out of its position of repose causes a defined change in a measurable system parameter and outputs a switching signal when the value of the system parameter exceeds the switching threshold. The circuit includes a device for measuring the measurable system parameter, an electrical circuit for ascertaining a reference value from which the switching threshold is determinable and an incremental corrector that changes the value of the measurable reference value to the value of the measurable system parameter at the position of repose of the touch element, in which the switching threshold is determinable from the reference value.

Applicant claims, under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119, the benefit of priority of the filing date of Jun. 18, 1999 of a German patent application, copy attached, Serial Number 199 29 557.3, filed on the aforementioned date, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a circuit for adjusting a switching threshold of a touch probe.
2. Discussion of Related Art
From European Patent Disclosure EP 0 501 680 B1, a circuit for a touch probe (touch system) with a deflectable touch element is known that upon a deflection of the touch element out of its position of repose outputs a switching signal. Such touch probes are used for determining the position of workpieces that are chucked in machines, especially milling machines, that machine material.
The term position of repose of the touch element is understood to mean a position of the touch element in which it as yet has no contact with a workpiece. Only upon contact of the touch element with the workpiece is the touch element moved out of its position of repose.
To ascertain whether the touch element has been deflected out of its position of repose, a voltage is measured, which drops across contacts disposed in the touch probe. Upon deflection of the touch element out of its position of repose, the touch probe causes a change in the voltage dropping across the contacts. If the voltage exceeds a predetermined switching threshold, the touch probe outputs a switching signal.
A known touch probe also readjusts the switching threshold after a deflection of the touch element and its return to its position of repose. This readjustment is necessary because, as a result of material wear and the effect of moisture and temperature, the touch element after a deflection out of its position of repose does not always return to the position of repose it originally occupied; instead, it assumes a position that deviates slightly from the originally assumed position of repose, or in other words it assumes a new position of repose. If the switching threshold were not readjusted, the circuit would always generate a switching signal even though the touch element no longer has any contact with the workpiece. Thus, upon assumption of the new position of repose, the switching threshold is adjusted to a value that corresponds to the resistance or voltage dropping across the contacts at the new position of repose of the touch element.
However, it is a disadvantage of the known touch probe that a deflection of the touch element that occurs during the adjustment of the switching threshold is not detectable, since the adjustment of the switching threshold from one value to another is caused by the adoption of an instantaneous value. Slight variations in the measured voltage, which are caused by a slight deflection of the touch element, can therefore not be detected by the known touch probe during a simultaneous adjustment of the switching threshold. At the same time, vibration of the machine in which the touch probe is used can affect the known touch probe, causing an incorrect adjustment of the switching threshold and failing to assure proper function of the touch probe.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to disclose a method and a circuit that assure a more accurate, malfunction-free adjustment of the switching threshold of a touch probe (touch system).
The above object is attained according to one aspect of the present invention that regards a method for adjusting a switching threshold of a touch probe, which has a touch element. The method includes deflecting the touch element out of a position of repose and causing a defined change in a measurable system parameter based on the deflecting of the touch element. Adjusting a switching threshold to a value dependent on the value of the measurable system parameter at the position of repose of the touch element, wherein the switching threshold is determined from a reference value, which is variable in increments and which is compared with the value of the measurable system parameter at the position of repose of the touch element and the reference value is corrected by one increment at a time, based on the value of the measurable system parameter at the position of repose of the touch element, if the reference value deviates from the value of the measurable system parameter at the position of repose of the touch element.
The above object is also attained by a second aspect of the present invention that regards a circuit for adjusting a switching threshold of a touch probe, which has a touch element that can be deflected out of a position of repose and which upon a deflection of the touch element out of its position of repose causes a defined change in a measurable system parameter and outputs a switching signal when the value of the system parameter exceeds the switching threshold. The circuit includes a device for measuring the measurable system parameter, an electrical circuit for ascertaining a reference value from which the switching threshold is determinable and an incremental corrector that changes the value of the measurable reference value to the value of the measurable system parameter at the position of repose of the touch element, in which the switching threshold is determinable from the reference value.
Accordingly, in an embodiment of a method according to the present invention for adjusting a switching threshold of a touch probe, which has a touch element that can be deflected out of its position of repose and which upon a deflection of the touch element out of its position of repose effects a defined change in a measurable system parameter and outputs a switching signal if the system parameter exceeds the switching threshold, the switching threshold is determined from an incrementally variable reference value. This reference value is compared at predeterminable times with the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element and is corrected by one increment at a time on a basis of this value of the system parameter, if the reference value deviates from this value of the system parameter.
The term xe2x80x9cincrementally variable valuexe2x80x9d is understood to mean a value that can never be increased or decreased by more than a predeterminable value, namely one increment. In particular, the incrementally variable reference value is formed by a digital signal.
The term xe2x80x9ctouch probexe2x80x9d is understood to mean a touch system which as its essential components has both a touch element and a generator for generating a switching signal.
In an embodiment of a method according to the present invention, the adjustment of the switching threshold accordingly is accomplished by incremental, repeated slight approximation of the reference value to a value that is dependent on the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element. The invention has the advantage that on the one hand it assures precise adjustment of the switching threshold at any time. Secondly, it assures that as a rule even during the adjustment operation, a simultaneous deflection of the touch element is detectable.
In a first variant of an embodiment of a method according to the present invention, the reference value is corrected upon assumption of operation of the touch probe, that is, when the touch probe is switched on or a supply voltage is applied to the touch probe, only until such time as the reference value attains or exceeds the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element. Next, the touch probe is determined from the reference value. To that end, it is preferably provided that the reference value, upon attaining or exceeding the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element, is increased by a predeterminable value. The touch probe is then adjusted to this increased reference value.
The predeterminable, preferably constant value by which the reference value is increased is selected to be so slight that the switching threshold, set to the increased reference value, deviates only slightly from the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element. This increases the accuracy of the touch probe, so that even an only slight deflection of the touch element is detectable.
In a further version of an embodiment of a method according to the present invention, it is provided that the switching threshold is repeatedly readjusted as long as the touch probe is in operation. Thus, shifts in the position of repose of the touch element caused by wear, temperature and moisture during the entire duration of operation of the touch probe are compensated for, and proper functioning of the touch probe at all time is assured. The switching threshold is corrected on the basis of the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element in such a way that the switching threshold deviates only slightly from the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element. The switching threshold is always, however, adjusted in such a way that the proper function of the touch probe is assured.
An already-adjusted switching threshold is preferably always adjusted to a new value if the already-adjusted switching threshold deviates by a predeterminable amount from the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element. The predeterminable amount is preferably determined by the interval that must be present between the switching threshold and the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element if reliable functioning of the touch probe is to be assured.
The switching threshold, or the reference value determining the switching threshold, is always varied only slightly here, so that normally a deflection of the touch element out of its position of repose during the adjustment or readjustment of the switching threshold is detectable. The reason for this is that normally in a touch-sensing operation the value of the system parameter changes faster than the incremental correction of the switching threshold according to the invention.
Preferably, the readjustment of the switching threshold is never performed until the touch element, after a deflection, has returned to its position of repose. A return of the touch element to its position of repose is preferably assumed whenever the touch probe has not been moved further within a predeterminable period of time, such as one minute. As an alternative, the return of the touch element to its position of repose can be detected by suitable sensors. In this alternative version, the readjustment of the switching threshold for instance occurs only after a predetermined period of time after the detection of the return of the touch element to the position of repose by the sensors.
As the system parameter, a voltage that drops over a detector system is preferably measured; its magnitude is a measure for the motion of the touch element out of its position of repose. In the event that the voltage measured by the detector system exceeds the switching threshold because of a motion of the touch element out of its position of repose, a switching signal is generated by the touch probe.
In a further version of an embodiment of a method according to the present invention, a further signal is generated by the touch probe in the event that upon the adjustment of the switching threshold, a predeterminable limit value of the switching threshold is exceeded. The touch probe is then switched off immediately, or else an alarm signal is output to the evaluation unit. It is advantageous that a readjustment takes place only within a predetermined adjustment range, which for instance is defined by the allowable operating conditions of components employed.
A circuit is suitable for performing the above-described method. With regard to the advantages of the circuit of the invention, reference is made to the remarks made above. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the circuit has a device for measuring a system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element. Furthermore, an electric (for instance digital) circuit is provided for ascertaining a reference value from which the switching threshold can be determined. The circuit also incrementally corrects the reference value to the value of the system parameter in the position of repose of the touch element. The switching threshold is determined from the corrected reference value.

Method and circuit for adjusting a switching threshold of a touch probe


A golf ball comprising an inner core, an outer core, and a cover is disclosed. The outer core surrounds the inner core, and the cover encases the cores. The inner core has a plurality of projections forming gaps between each projection, where the free ends of the projections form a spheroid-shaped surface. The inner core is formed of a first material and the outer core is formed of a second material. The outer core is non-wound, and the second material is disposed within the gaps in the inner core so that the outer surface of the outer core is substantially spherical. The first and second materials have substantially different material properties. In one embodiment, the projections have enlarged free ends. In another embodiment, the projections taper from a base outward. In yet another embodiment, the maximum length of each projection is greater than the maximum width.

This invention generally relates to golf balls, and more particularly, to a golf ball with an improved core.
Conventional golf balls have been designed to provide particular playing characteristics. These characteristics are generally initial velocity, compression, and spin of the golf ball, which can be optimized for various types of players. For instance, certain players prefer a ball that has a high spin rate in order to control the ball flight and stop the golf ball on impact with the greens. This type of ball, however, does not provide maximum distance. Other players prefer a ball that has a low spin rate and high resiliency to maximize distance.
Generally, golf balls have been classified as wound balls or solid balls. Wound balls are generally constructed from a liquid or solid center surrounded by an elastic thread wound in tension to form a wound core. This wound core is then surrounded by a cover. Wound balls are generally thought of as performance golf balls, not distance balls. When struck by a golf club, these balls have good resiliency, relatively high spin rate, and xe2x80x9csoftxe2x80x9d feel. Wound balls are generally more difficult to manufacture than solid golf balls.
Early solid golf balls were generally comprised of a hard core and a hard cover. However, if the golf ball has a soft core and a hard cover, it has a low spin rate. If the golf ball has a hard core and a hard cover, it exhibits very high resiliency for distance, but a xe2x80x9chardxe2x80x9d feel and is difficult to control on the greens. Additionally, if the golf ball has a hard core and a soft cover, it will have a high rate of spin. More recently developed solid balls are comprised of a core, at least one intermediate layer, and a cover. The intermediate layers improve the playing characteristics of solid balls, and can be composed of thermoset or thermoplastic materials.
Typically, solid golf ball cores are spherical and solid. In an effort to improve the playing characteristics of balls, typically the golf ball core diameter or core compression has been varied. It is desired to provide a solid golf ball with an improved core that provides unique performance characteristics.
Several patents have been issued which are directed towards modifying the geometry of various golf balls and components thereof.
Several patents are directed to spherical cores that have been modified with features such as bores or projections. U.S. Pat. No. 2,364,955 issued to Diddel, for example, discloses a golf ball that has a spherical core with radially extending bores. The bores are filled with a frangible material. Then the core is encased in a cover. On impact the frangible material breaks in order to absorb the impact energy. By absorbing this energy, the invention is supposed to decrease the rebound or resilience of the ball and provide a short distance ball. As a result, it is stated smaller golf courses may be used.
U.S. Pat. No. 720,852 issued to Smith discloses an internal core with a spherical surface that includes small, solid protuberances projecting therefrom. The core is encased in a rubber layer having small, solid protuberances projecting therefrom. A silk layer is wound thereon, then the ball is encased in an outer covering. The purpose of the core protuberances is to allow good anchorage for the rubber and silk layers and to increase the resiliency of the ball as a whole.
In other instances hollow, spherical cores are used. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,524,171 issued to Chatfield discloses a core with a hollow, spherical center that supports cylindrical, solid lugs. A spherical casing surrounds and abuts the tips of the lugs. The lugs and casing are designed so that the casing compresses the lugs in the finished ball. Fluid or wound rubber bands occupy the space around the lugs, between the spherical center and the casing. The lugs are meant to promote accurate location of the center by facilitating uniform and spherical winding of the rubber bands about the center. An outer shell surrounds the casing.
U.K. Pat. Application No. 2,162,072 issued to Slater discloses a golf ball with an inner core that includes a plurality of solid, support members or struts that diverge from a common center. The struts form a generally cubic, tetrahedral, or octahedral shaped core. The struts serve to locate the inner core symmetrically within a mold cavity. An outer core is molded about the inner core, and a cover is molded thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,143 issued to McMurry discloses a substantially spherical practice ball comprising mutually perpendicular members with a plurality of walls that interconnect the members. The walls are for increasing the drag on the ball so that smaller playing fields can be used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,834 issued to Masutani et al. discloses a two or three piece golf ball comprising a two-layer solid core composed of a low-hardness inner core and a high-hardness outer core joined around the low-hardness inner core. A projection is formed on the inner surface of the high-hardness outer core such that the projection extends along an approximate normal direction, while a depression corresponding to the projection is formed in the outer surface of the low-hardness inner core, and the low-hardness inner core and the high-hardness outer core are joined together such that the projection is inserted into the depression.
However, these patents do not disclose a golf ball having the configuration as disclosed herein to provide the improved golf balls of the present invention.
The present invention is directed to a golf ball having a core geometry designed to provide improved playing characteristics such as spin rate, initial velocity, compression, and feel.
The golf ball comprises an inner core, an outer core surrounding the inner core, and a cover encasing the cores. The inner core is one piece with a plurality of projections extending from a center portion. The solid or non-wound outer core is disposed around the projections so that the outer surface of the outer core is spherical to form a non-wound core. The inner core is formed of a first material and the outer core is formed of a second material. These materials have substantially different Shore D hardnesses, elastic modulii, specific gravities, or Bayshore resiliences. The cover may include one or more layers.
In one embodiment, the inner core includes a central portion and a plurality of spaced projections extending radially therefrom such that they form substantially a spheroid. In one embodiment, the projections are conical, and the projections include a base adjacent the outer surface of the central portion. The base is greater than or equal to the height of each projection.
In yet another embodiment, the inner core includes a central portion and a plurality of projections that have enlarged free ends which can define recesses for receiving material.
In another embodiment, the inner core is shaped like a spheroid and thus includes a substantially spherical outer surface including a plurality of projections and adjacent indentations. The projections have a maximum length greater than a maximum width. The outer core is disposed within the indentations and surrounding the inner core.
In another embodiment, the golf ball includes an inner core radius that includes only inner core material and an outer core radius that includes both inner and outer core material. The inner core and outer core volumes are calculated using the respective radius, and a transition volume is the difference between the two volumes. The golf ball in one embodiment is formed with a transition volume of at least about 10% of the outer core volume.
In one embodiment of the golf ball of the present invention, the elastic properties of the ball are such that the inner core and outer core materials are selected to satisfy the relationship below. When a first sample is formed of inner core material, a load can be applied to the sample and under the load the sample deflects so that a first ratio of the load over the sample deflection is measured. When a second sample is formed of the outer core material, a load can be applied to the sample and under the load the sample deflects so that a second ratio of the load over the sample deflection is measured. The inner and outer core materials should be selected so that the difference between the first and second ratios are at least about 10%.
The relationship between the outer core and the inner core are such that the ball has various playing characteristics at various club impact speeds.


A method of error detection of a flight management system coupled with a guidance of an aircraft according to a flight plan, comprises the steps of: generating a first reference guidance order, monitoring the integrity of the first reference position, when the first reference position is not monitored as being dependable: invalidating the first FMS assembly and the associated guidance system, when the first reference position and the first reference trajectory are monitored as being dependable: generating a first monitoring guidance order, generating a first reference flight control, generating a first monitoring flight control, in monitoring the integrity of the first reference guidance order when the first reference guidance order is not monitored as being dependable: invalidating the first FMS assembly and the associated guidance.

A flight plan is the detailed description of the route to be followed by an aircraft within the framework of a planned flight. The flight plan is customarily managed aboard civil aeroplanes by a system designated by the terminology of "Flight Management System", which will subsequently be called the FMS, which places the route to be followed at the disposal of the flight personnel and at the disposal of the other onboard systems. This FMS system also allows an aid to navigation, through the display of information useful to the pilots, or else through the communication of guidance orders to an automatic piloting system.
FIG. 1 presents a summary diagram illustrating the structure of an FMSO known from the prior art. A known FMS type system has a man-machine interface MMI comprising for example a keyboard and a display screen, or else simply a touch display screen, as well as at least the following functions, illustrated in a generic manner by an associated module and described in the ARINC 702 standard:                Navigation LOC performs the optimal location of the aircraft as a function of the geo-location means GEOLOC such as satellite or GPS based geo-positioning, VHF radionavigation beacons, inertial platforms. This module communicates with the aforementioned geo-location devices. Thus the module LOC calculates the position (latitude, longitude, altitude) and the speed of the aircraft in space.        Flight plan FPLN inputs the geographical elements constituting the skeleton of the route to be followed, such as the points imposed by the departure and arrival procedures, the waypoints, the aerial routes or "airways";        Navigation database NAVDB contains the waypoints, the geographical routes, the procedures and the beacons;        Performance database PERFDB contains the craft's aerodynamic performance and engine parameters;        Lateral trajectory TRAJ, constructs by calculation a continuous trajectory on the basis of the points of the flight plan, using the performance of the aircraft and while complying with the confinement constraints (RNP);        Predictions PRED, constructs an optimized vertical profile on the lateral trajectory and provides the predictions in terms of transit time, quantity of fuel remaining, altitude and speed of transit at each of the points of the flight plan;        Guidance GUID establishes, on the basis of the position and of the calculated trajectory, guidance orders to guide the aircraft in the lateral, vertical planes and speed so as to follow its three-dimensional trajectory, while optimizing its speed. The guidance orders are transmitted to the automatic pilot. When the aircraft is equipped with an automatic pilot PA and it is operating, it is the latter which transforms the guidance orders into flight controls;        DATALINK digital data link communicates with the air traffic control centres, the ground operational centres and, in the future, other aircraft 13.
The flight plan is entered by the pilot, or else by data link, on the basis of data contained in the navigation database.
The pilot thereafter inputs the parameters of the aircraft: mass, flight plan, span of cruising levels, as well as one or a plurality of optimization criteria, such as the Cost Index CI. These inputs allow the modules TRAJ and PRED to calculate respectively the lateral trajectory and the vertical profile, that is to say the flight profile in terms of altitude and speed, which for example minimizes the optimization criterion.
Thus in a conventional manner a flight management system:
calculates a position of the aeroplane (LOC) on the basis of data arising from onboard sensors listed hereinabove,
determines a trajectory (module TRAJ/PRED) with the databases PERF DB, in accordance with the flight plan defined on the basis of the NAV DB,
provides, on the basis of the position and of the trajectory, guidance orders (module GUID), ("flight guidance target") so as to follow this trajectory. In a conventional manner, the calculated aeroplane position makes it possible to identify a possible disparity with the trajectory or a forthcoming change (turn, climb, acceleration, deceleration) of the trajectory. On the basis of this lateral disparity, GUID will establish a guidance order, in a conventional manner: roll laterally, pitch or slope vertically, speed or thrust level in terms of speed.
Hereinafter in the disclosure, the term "guidance order" (or "flight guidance target") covers all the guidance orders such as defined hereinabove.
The guidance orders generated by GUID are transmitted to the automatic pilot PA. The PA transforms the guidance orders which are dispatched to it into flight controls directly applied to the aircraft (Ailerons, Elevators, Engines etc.)
Hereinafter in the disclosure, the term "flight control" covers all the flight controls such as defined hereinabove.
In a conventional manner, the automatic pilot generates and dispatches to the control surfaces of the aeroplane the position (angle) for the ailerons and elevators, the thrust for the engines etc.
Generally, an automatic pilot PA makes it possible to guide an aircraft automatically on the basis of directives provided, either by the pilot ("tactical") through an interface termed FCU (AIRBUS) or MCP (BOEING), or by a system of FMS type (strategic). We shall be interested in guidance on the basis of the FMS.
These flight controls are presented to the pilot via the flight director in the form for example of vertical and lateral bars (that the pilot must try to follow by hand when the automatic pilot is not engaged).
Certain procedures require a more significant level of precision in aircraft guidance. For example, towards the end of the cruising phase and a few minutes before beginning the descent, the pilot selects via the FMS the approach procedure that he will use to place the aeroplane on the landing runway of his destination airport. The approach procedure for certain airports is of the RNP AR type with RNP<0.3 NM.
The RNP concept used in the aeronautical industry consists on the one hand in the capability of the aeroplane's navigation system to monitor its performance (precision) and to inform the pilot of compliance or otherwise with the operational requirements (error) during the operation, and on the other hand in the optimization of the approach procedures by basing them on the navigation performance of the aeroplane.
This concept makes it possible to reduce the spacings between aeroplanes when cruising and in the terminal zone, to optimize the takeoff and landing procedures. It also makes it possible to reduce the minima associated with the approach procedures both in non-precision approaches and in RNAV conventional approaches.
An RNP procedure refers to a specific procedure or block of space. For example, an RNP xx procedure signifies that the aircraft's navigation systems must be capable of calculating the position of the aircraft in a circle of xx Nm, for example an RNP 0.3 in a circle of 0.3 Nm.
The RNP AR concept for its part makes it possible to add several capabilities:
access without specific ground means to fields that are difficult to access because of the relief (for example Juneau, Queenstown)
reconcile the trajectories of procedures of parallel approach on airports (gain 1 RNP between two procedures (for example San Francisco)
construct shorter procedures which therefore consume less fuel (for example Doha)
construct procedures which reduce sound nuisance (for example Washington, arrival over the Potomac)
reduce the dispersion of the approach trajectories (vs ATC)
replace approaches requiring ground means by virtue of a reduction in the lateral uncertainty and a monitoring of the vertical disparity with the reference profile (the FAA has twinned CAT I approaches with RNP procedures, often AR).
The notion AR ("Authorization required"), involves an obligation to obtain, on a case by case basis, authorization by the local authorities to operate the approach in question with the defined minima. This authorization is delivered to each crew on a given aeroplane type and for each approach.
For these specific approaches, such as RNP AR approaches, it is appropriate to implement an avionics architecture which makes it possible to comply in an automatic manner with the integrity and continuity constraints associated with this type of approach.
Continuity, or availability, is intended to mean the fact that when a fault with the FMS system or with the associated guidance system (automatic pilot) is detected, the aircraft is capable of switching over to another system affording the same level of service. Conventionally, availability is obtained by splitting the FMS and the associated automatic pilot, such as illustrated in FIG. 2. The two chains FMS10/PA10 and FMS20/PA20 are autonomous, that is to say independent of one another. The FMS10 calculates a position, a trajectory and the module GUID10 generates a guidance order CG10 such as described previously. The guidance order CG1 is dispatched to the automatic pilot PA10. Likewise the FMS20 calculates a position, a trajectory and a module GUID20 generates a guidance order CG20 such as described previously. The guidance order CG10 is dispatched to the automatic pilot PA10 and the guidance order CG20 is dispatched to the automatic pilot PA20.
When a fault is detected in the system FMS10+PA10, the overall system switches over to the system FMS20+PA20, either automatically, or through an action of the pilot.
In order to carry out approaches of "autoland" type in which the automatic pilot is capable of landing the aeroplane, certain automatic pilots exhibit a so-called COM/MON architecture. The COM (for "command") part of the automatic pilot establishes a directive CV10 with the aid of the piloting laws.
In a conventional manner, the automatic pilot determines the disparity between the current attitude (roll, pitch) of the aeroplane and the desired directive (pilot selection or FM guidance command) and generates on the basis of a piloting law a flight control CV10. Moreover, the COM part of the automatic pilot transmits the desired directive to the MON (for "monitoring") part, which implements in the same manner as COM the same piloting law to generate a flight control CV1 bis. The integrity of the flight control CV10 is verified by comparison with CV1 bis. The COM part of the automatic pilot PA has transmitted its command CV10 to the MON part of the PA and the MON part of the PA has transmitted its command CV1 bis to the COM part of the PA. PA COM and MON compare their respective commands and invalidate the PA if a representative disparity is measured.
Each automatic pilot uses a unique guidance order arising from the corresponding FMS.
Concerning the problematic issue of the integrity of the system for these specific approaches, for example to be able to follow an RNP xx procedure, the aircraft's navigation system must be capable of calculating the position of the aircraft in a circle of xx Nm, but the automatic piloting system must also guarantee that it will be able to guide the aircraft with the same precision.
The precision level of the guidance is fixed and known, whereas the precision of the calculation of the position can vary along the flight (different GPS coverage, drifts of the inertial platforms, more or less dense coverage of the radio navigation means).
In a conventional manner, the error in calculating the aeroplane position called TSE (Total System Error) represented in FIG. 3 is the quadratic sum of 3 components:
The aeroplane location error or PEE for "Position Estimation Error",
The aeroplane trajectory error or PDE for "Path Definition Error",
The aeroplane guidance error or PSE for "Path steering Error".
The arrow DesP corresponds to the desired trajectory ("desired path"), the dotted arrow DefP ("defined path") corresponds to the calculated trajectory.
The flight management system FMS contributes to the three components of the TSE, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
The term "outer loop" (or "large loop") corresponds to the servocontrol laws managing the displacement of the centre of gravity of the aeroplane (high-level directive as input such as heading, altitude, etc. and low-level directive as output roll, pitch). The term "inner loop" (or "small loop") designates the servocontrol laws managing the equilibrium of the aeroplane around the centre of gravity (low-level directive such as roll, pitch as input, flight controls as outputs such as the angles in regard to the control surfaces). PFD signifies Primary Flight Display, where the Flight Director directives are displayed.
Now, it is the components (Position, Trajectory and guidance) of this TSE which are one of the sources of error leading to a potentially undetected erroneous calculation of a lateral or vertical guidance.
The demand for more significant integrity of the TSE appears for so-called RNP AR approaches with RNP<0.3 NM. To aid compliance with this integrity, a strong constraint has appeared in regard to the definition of the trajectory which must be "geo" referenced laterally and vertically, stated otherwise the straight and curved segments for the lateral and the slopes for the vertical are fixed with respect to the ground and all the aeroplanes will follow exactly the same trajectory. It emerges therefrom that for FMSs using a good representation of the "earth" (WGS84 compatible), the error related to the construction of the trajectory can be ignored in the formula for the TSE.
It is therefore appropriate for the FMS system to ensure the required integrity by detecting the calculation errors in regard to position and to guidance. The current facilities supporting the FMS application do not guarantee an occurrence per flight hour of non-detection of erroneous calculation of less than a few 10−6, typically 5.10−6.
Now, for approaches of RNP type with RNP<0.3 NM for example, an integrity level called "hazardous", corresponding to a fault occurrence of less than 10−7 per flight hour, is required. A lone FMS may not therefore ensure an integrity of this level. Duplication of the FMS used for obtaining continuity does not solve this problem, each FMS being individually limited in integrity.
A first solution of the prior art to attain the "hazardous" level of integrity is described in document U.S. Pat. No. 8,660,745. The architecture of the system comprises two FMSs, a "master" FMS carrying out the "computing" and a second "slave" FMS carrying out the "monitoring". The commands emitted by the master are verified by the slave: If the slave FMS estimates not being in the conditions (sequencing of the point of the flight plan aimed at to pass to the following point), it rejects the guidance order causing the transition to independent. The 2 FMSs are no longer in DUAL mode and operate without exchanging information. Thus the crew knows that the RNP manoeuvre poses a problem, but the difficulty is to know which FMS is valid and which FMS is defective. This architecture makes it possible to maintain the proper level of integrity since the guidance error is detected but does not comply with the continuity requirement since the pilot cannot continue the operation, since even if he succeeds in detecting the "good" FMS, the integrity level required is not achieved with a lone FM.
A second solution of the prior art to attain the "hazardous" level of integrity is described in document US20120092193 and in FIG. 5. This architecture called "Triplex" implements 3 FMSs and two automatic pilots. The principle is that each of the three FMSs, FMS1, FMS2 and FMS3, is capable of generating a guidance order independently.
On the basis of these three guidance order values, a vote is carried out in the first automatic pilot PA1, that is to say that a middle value is calculated, and if a value is too far from the middle value, then it is discarded and the corresponding FMS is invalidated. When an FMS is discarded, there still remain two FMSs which can be compared, guaranteeing the availability and the integrity level required. Thus this architecture makes it possible, in case of a fault with a first FMS, to continue to guide the aeroplane (availability) along the trajectory with the same integrity level ("hazardous"), during approach procedure of RNP xx type.
A drawback of this architecture is that it is expensive to develop, since the vote is complex to fine tune and requires a significant modification of the automatic pilot. Moreover, a great deal of aircraft are equipped only with 2 FMSs and do not have the capability to add a 3rd instance at the very least at lesser cost. On the other hand they may wish to access airports with approaches of RNP AR type with RNP<0.3 NM.
An aim of the invention is to alleviate the aforementioned drawbacks, by proposing an avionics architecture (and a method) which is simplified, compatible with a system with 2 FMSs and capable of guiding an aircraft automatically while guaranteeing a high integrity level, and if appropriate while also guaranteeing continuity.

Method of error detection of an aircraft flight management and guidance system and high-integrity flight management and guidance system


A system and method for controlling the operation of a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system for use primarily in a building having more than two controllable temperature zones. Rooms having a priority for heating or cooling are identified as such in a controller. The controller sums Temperature Differences from all controlled spaces and causes the HVAC system to operate in a first mode (e.g. heating) if the sum has a first relationship to a preselected value (e.g. sum>=0) and causes the HVAC system to operate in a second mode (e.g. cooling) otherwise.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for temperature control within a building. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for concurrently controlling the temperature of many spaces within a building.
By way of background, most residential and many small commercial buildings (those of under 50,000 square feet) have a single Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system serving all of the spaces within a building. The HVAC system typically includes apparatus for heating a medium fluid, such as water or air, apparatus for cooling the fluid, and some sort of transmission system for sending the fluid to spaces requiring heating or cooling. Typically, the HVAC system had a single transmission system which served to heat or cool the spaces. The heating and cooling systems were not used at the same time.
Connected to the HVAC system was some sort of temperature sensor and control. One prior art temperature sensor and control apparatus was the thermostat. A thermostat would be placed at some location within the building thought to be representative of the temperature of the entire building. Usually the thermostat was set by an operator to operate either in a heating mode or a cooling mode. The operator also entered a desired temperature, or setpoint, into the thermostat. The thermostat thereafter determined whether the temperature of the space varied from the setpoint, and if so, turned on the HVAC system until the difference between the setpoint and the actual temperature was eliminated. This temperature control method had the obvious problem that no matter what site was picked for the thermostat, some portions of the building were invariably too warm, while others were too cold.
In an effort to address the variance among rooms, each room was provided with a thermostat connected to the HVAC system and to a medium fluid flow control means. If one space required heating or cooling, the thermostat would cause the HVAC system to direct the conditioned medium fluid into the requesting space.
An equivalent system was provided by having a temperature sensor in each room, each temperature sensor being connected to a controller. The controller was in turn connected to the HVAC system and the plural medium fluid flow control means. Note that as a further example, plural thermostats were connected to a single controller to provide the desired control.
A problem with these last three examples existed in that while one room was calling for heat, another room might have been calling for cooling. One scheme for dealing with this problem was to have the controller average all of the differences between the setpoints and the actual temperatures for the rooms. If the average had a first relationship to a preselected constant, the HVAC system would be in a heating mode, otherwise the HVAC system would be in a cooling mode. A problem with this method was that if an unimportant room, such as an unoccupied basement, had a large temperature differential requiring heating when an important room, such as an occupied living room, had a small temperature differential requiring cooling, the basements' large heating demand would cause the HVAC system into heating mode. This leads to occupant discomfort.
In an effort to overcome this problem, the controller was modified to accept a range of values from 0% to 100% for a cooling priority. By way of example, a building owner could set a cooling priority of 30% which would cause the HVAC system to operate in cooling mode if 30% of the monitored spaces called for cooling. Thus, in a house having 8 rooms, if one room required cooling, 12.5% of the rooms required cooling, but this did not exceed the 30% minimum required and therefore cooling did not occur. If three rooms were calling for cooling, 37.5% were now calling for cooling, and therefore the HVAC system operates in cooling mode. However, even with this system, rooms which were unimportant from a temperature standpoint to the occupants could still cause undesired operation of the HVAC system. In the current example, if the three spaces calling for cooling were the basement (unoccupied), guest bedroom (unoccupied) and guest bath (unoccupied) while the other rooms in the building were calling for heating, the occupants were experiencing temperature discomfort.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to try to give heating or cooling priority to rooms that the occupants have identified as important to their comfort.

Control method and system for controlling temperatures


Sanitizing seat surfaces in a location being related to seating, such as a transportation vehicle includes a passenger area of the location. There are multiple rows of seats. A sanitization device includes a mobile body configured to travel along the aisle of the passenger area. An arm extends from the sanitization device laterally from the mobile body across the seats, and a source of UV radiation mounted on the sanitization device is directed across the seats exposing surfaces in the passenger area to UV radiation.

The present disclosure is generally directed to a sanitation device and, more particularly, to a sanitation device that includes a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is used to sanitize a surface. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods of sanitizing surfaces using the device.
This disclosure further concerns sanitizing aircraft, particularly aircraft cabins. Further the disclosure concerns sanitizing surfaces at and of locations associated with mass transportation.
The system applies, for instance, to airplanes, and other mass transportation systems, namely vehicles and collection and discharge areas, and assembly locations relating for instance to buses, trains, ferries etc. and other forms of passenger conveyance.
A system and method trolley intended to sanitize the air and surfaces in an aircraft cabin that are commonly contacted by passengers in an effort to minimize the risk of disease spread.
Infectious disease transmission among air travelers is a significant personal and public health concern. Common and potentially serious viral (e.g. Influenza), bacterial (e.g. Methicillin Resistant Staph aureus), and fungal pathogens are typically spread through the air and from mutually contacted surfaces, known as "fomites". Commercial aircraft currently use extensive on-board air filtration and ultraviolet "C" band (UVC) (extrinsic to cabin compartment) technologies to decrease airborne microbes, yet disease transmission continues, suggesting cabin surfaces may play a role.
UVC is an effective germicidal technology not only for air, but for surfaces. However, there is no currently available technology to effectively and efficiently sanitize the surfaces of a passenger aircraft interior. The aircraft interior is never exposed to natural ultraviolet light. Chemical disinfection is labor intensive, with potential harmful residues. Human exposure to UVC can be associated with skin and eye damage and care must be exercised in its use.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Sanitizing surfaces associated with seating


A method determines an optimal route to deliver a packet from a source node via relay nodes to a destination node in a network. A graph of nodes connected by edges represents possible routes in the network. A probability that the packet arrives at the destination before a deadline time is assigned to each edge. A minimal delay route is selected from the possible routes, and an arrival time for delivering the packet using the minimal delay route is determined. The arrival time is comparing to a deadline time, and the probabilities are scaled accordingly until the minimal delay route is an optimal route.

Determining optimal routes is a frequent problem in many practical transportation, planning and communication applications. Of particular interest to the invention is the case where optimality is defined in terms of delay. For example, in a transportation and distribution system, there may be many possible alternative routes from a source to a destination. It is desired to deliver a packet from the source to the destination along the route that has a guaranteed minimal amount of delay.
In a planning application or manufacturing application, a task or assembly process may involve multiple alternative intermediate step from the beginning (source) to the end (destination). It is desired to complete the task or assemble a part with a guaranteed amount of delay.
In a communications application, it may be necessary to deliver a data packet from a source to a destination along a route with a minimal amount of delay. It should be noted that a minimal delay is distinguished from the more common "shortest" route problem because a shortest route, in terms of physical length, may not always be the fastest.
In the following, a wireless communications network is used as an example application. However, it is understood that the invention can be worked in many other types of routing applications as noted above.
A wireless ad-hoc network, also known as an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS), is a network in which the communication channels between nodes, e.g., user terminals, stations, transceivers, are wireless. The network is ad hoc because its topology and routing are arbitrary, and any node can forward packets for other nodes. The determination of routes the nodes use to forward data packets is made dynamically based on network connectivity and channel state.
A wireless ad-hoc network can achieve reliable connectivity between nodes of the network. Typically, all nodes have a similar structure and functionality. The nodes are usually battery operated, and packets are forwarded from a source node to a destination node via a set of intermediate relay nodes using wireless channels connecting the nodes.
Unstructured wireless ad-hoc networks have a number of advantages over conventional structured networks, such as the Internet and cellular networks. Wireless ad-hoc networks do not require a fixed infrastructure, such as base stations, a wired backbone and routers specifically designed to route packets. This can reduce cost. Because signals can be transmitted via different alternative routes, reliability is increased. Energy consumption can decrease because intermediate relay nodes can receive and retransmit the signals via more reliable channels. Because the total transmitted energy is decreased, the lifetime of the network is increased, there is less interference, and spectral efficiency is improved. Ad hoc network are especially advantageous for battery operated transceivers.
For this reason, ad-hoc networks are frequently used for emergency response, environmental data collection, factory automation, security and military applications.
In many applications, ad-hoc networks must provide a guarantee for quality-of-service (QoS). One measure of QoS is the amount of delay incurred while transmitting the packet from the source node to the destination node. For example in an ad hoc sensor network, a packet that indicates that a piece of machinery is overheating, or otherwise malfunctioning, must be delivered to a control center before the machine ceases to function and cause more widespread damage.
The QoS in the wireless ad-hoc networks is influenced by a variety of factors including node admission, arrival statistics of packets from higher layers of a network protocol, scheduling and multiple-access mechanisms, properties of the physical layer transmission, and routing.
Due to all these variations, in particular variations in the physical layer, it is not possible to give a perfect guarantee that a packet will arrive at the destination before a deadline. It is only possible to guarantee the packets will arrive in time for a certain percentage of all channel realizations, e.g., 99%. This notion is similar in spirit to the "outage probability" of cellular networks, which defines the probability that a mobile station does not receive sufficient signal power to communicate with a base station.
Henceforth, the probability of on-time arrival is "a "probabilistic guarantee." While stochastic variations of the delay, due to random packet arrival of the source, has been extensively described in the prior art, random variations of the transmission time due to randomly varying channels has not.
Routing is particularly important for the QoS in wireless ad-hoc networks. Routing determines the relay nodes used to forward packets from the source to the destination. Typically, routes are "discovered" and the results are stored in a routing table. A route that fulfills a particular QoS constraint, e.g., delay, is stored and maintained until the route "breaks," i.e., the QoS constraint is violated.
Route discovery methods can generally be categorized as flooding, geometry or stateful. With flooding or "gossiping," packets are transmitted from the source to all or randomly selected nodes. That technique does not require any knowledge of network topology or channel state information (CSI) by the nodes, but is energy inefficient because a large number of nodes are involved.
With geometry-based routing, an optimum route is determined in a central or distributed manner based on the knowledge of the location of the nodes. However, distances between nodes do not necessarily reflect propagation and delay conditions. Therefore, geometry or shortest-route based techniques can lead to suboptimum routes in terms of delay.
In stateful routing, the routing is based on the instantaneous CSI. In this category, the optimum route is determined from a global or distributed knowledge of the instantaneous CSI of all wireless channels between the nodes. For many communication applications, route discovery based on the instantaneous CSI is not practical. The state of a wireless channel can change continuously, particularly when the nodes are mobile. The typical coherence time of wireless channels is on the order of a few milliseconds. Consequently, frequent updates of the CSI throughout the network lead to an unacceptable overhead.
In large networks, the overhead of communicating the routing information for all possible nodes decreases the spectral efficiency of the network and consumes power. On-demand route discovery in large network is also not practical because the route discovery process often takes longer than the permitted delay.
Therefore, it is desired to provide a method for routing that does not have any of the above problems, and that can determine a route that has a guaranteed minimal amount of delay.

Method for routing packets in wireless ad-hoc networks with probabilistic delay guarantees

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A system and a method are disclosed that, in an embodiment, receive first input from a user of a candidate formulation recipe, and second input from the user of target properties and target property constraints. The system inputs the first input into a machine learning model, the model having been trained using historical training data, each element of the historical training data corresponding to a known formulation having a known feature representation, each known formulation having associated properties and statistical representations of each feature of the known formulation that form the known feature representation. The system receives as output from the model a predicted property of a candidate formulation derived using the first input and the likelihood that the candidate formulation satisfies the target property constraints using the second input. The system generates for display to the user a predicted likelihood that the predicted property satisfies the second input.

Formulations producers may need to create new formulations to achieve performance specifications for various properties (e.g., mechanical, optical, electrical, chemical, etc.) that are required for a given application. These properties may vary based on the recipe used to create the formulation. In some instances, formulations producers may consider using untested ingredients in a formulation. For example, if ingredients for an existing formulation become unavailable or costly (e.g., due to a supply chain failure), the producer may wish to design a recipe using new ingredients. However, experimentation with new ingredients may be prohibitively expensive, may be inefficient, and may have no guarantee of success in achieving necessary performance specifications.

Using machine learning to explore formulations recipes with new ingredients


A cutting device includes a housing formed with a handle portion and an accommodation portion, a cutting portion connected to the housing and at least partially disposed in the accommodation portion, a motor disposed in the accommodation portion and extending in a first linear direction, and a bottom plate extending in a plane of the bottom plate and formed with an opening through which at least part of the cutting portion passes. The cutting device further includes a worm gear and worm structure disposed in the accommodation portion. The cutting portion includes a chain and a guide plate connected to the housing and used for supporting the chain. The motor includes an output shaft, the cutting portion is connected to a driving shaft, the output shaft transmits power to the driving shaft through a worm gear and a worm, and the driving shaft is capable of driving the chain.

As a combination of a larger cutting depth of a chain saw and a powerful power of an electric circular saw with a high precision, a cutting device finally has the characteristics of the large cutting depth and the better cutting precision. However, the cutting device also has some disadvantages while combining the two electric power tools. The disadvantages include the large volume, difficult operation by a user, insufficient lubrication of the chain during the lubrication process and other conditions, so that the cutting device has many problems in actual use. How to reduce the overall size of the cutting device and improve the user experience of the cutting device is a technical problem to be urgently solved by the person skilled in the art.


The interlayer insulating film of this invention is composed of a polymer in which a first monomer having four substituted acetylenyl groups and polymerizable in the three-dimensional direction and a second monomer having two substituted cyclopentanonyl groups and polymerizable in the two-dimensional direction are three-dimensionally polymerized.

The present invention relates to an interlayer insulating film, a method for forming the interlayer insulating film and a polymer composition for use in a multilayer interconnect structure of a semiconductor integrated circuit device.
In accordance with the development for increasing the degree of integration of semiconductor integrated circuits, the performance of the semiconductor integrated circuits cannot be smoothly improved because of increase of interconnect delay time derived from increase of capacitance between interconnects, that is, parasitic capacitance between metal interconnects. The interconnect delay time is in proportion to a product of the resistance of metal interconnects and capacitance between the interconnects and corresponds to what is called RC delay.
Accordingly, in order to reduce the interconnect delay time, it is necessary to reduce the resistance of the metal interconnects or reduce the capacitance between the interconnects.
A technique to use copper or copper alloy instead of aluminum-based alloy as an interconnect material for reducing the resistance of the metal interconnects has been reported. Since copper or copper alloy has resistivity as small as approximately ⅔ of that of an aluminum-based alloy material, when a copper material is used as the interconnect material, the interconnect delay time simply calculated is reduced to ⅔ of that attained when an aluminum-based alloy material is used, which results in an operation speed 1.5 times as high as that attained by using the aluminum-based alloy material.
When the degree of integration of semiconductor integrated circuits is further increased, however, even in the case where metal interconnects of a copper material are used, there is a fear that the operation speed may be limited due to the increase of the interconnect delay time. Also, when used as the interconnect material, copper has small resistivity ranking next to silver, but even when metal interconnects of silver are used instead of copper interconnects, the interconnect resistance is reduced merely slightly.
On the other hand, in order to reduce the capacitance between interconnects, it is necessary to lower the dielectric constant of an interlayer insulating film. A conventional interconnect insulating film is made of a silicon oxide film, and the silicon oxide film has a dielectric constant of approximately 4 through 4.5. Therefore, it is difficult to use the silicon oxide film as an interlayer insulating film of a semiconductor integrated circuit with a higher degree of integration.
Accordingly, as an interlayer insulating film having a dielectric constant lower than the silicon oxide film, a fluorine-containing silicon oxide film, a low dielectric constant SOG film, an organic polymer film and a porous film have been proposed.
Among these interlayer insulating films having low dielectric constants, a porous film is regarded as a promising film because it can remarkably lower the dielectric constant. When a porous film is used, the quantity of pores introduced into the film (porosity) is increased so as to realize a low dielectric constant.
When the porosity is increased, however, although the dielectric constant can be lowered, the mechanical characteristic (such as elastic modulus, hardness or an adhesion property) is largely degraded. When the mechanical characteristic is degraded, there is a fear of peeling or destruction of the film caused by a variety of stress occurring during integration process. The various stress herein are, for example, thermal stress caused in metal CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) for forming copper interconnects or annealing performed during the process and stress caused in bonding.
The elastic modulus required of an interlayer insulating film used in a semiconductor integrated circuit is at least 3 GPa or more, and the elastic modulus of a porous film with a dielectric constant of 2 or less is much lower than 3 GPa.
Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a porous silica film with high regularity or a three-dimensional organic polymer film with a diamond structure has been recently proposed.
A porous silica film with high regularity can attain elastic modulus of 10 GPa or more by regularly forming, in the film, honey comb structures each with an opening of several nm.
Also, a three-dimensional organic polymer film with a diamond structure is formed through self-organized polymerization of a two-dimensionally polymerized monomer and a three-dimensionally polymerized monomer each having a diamond structure, and can realize improvement of isotropic mechanical strength. Also, a three-dimensional polymer film with a dielectric constant of 2 or less can attain elastic modulus of approximately 10 GPa.
A porous silica film with high regularity has, however, a problem of high hygroscopicity as well as a problem that a method for forming this film is complicated because it is necessary to make the inner wall of each pore hydrophobic. Furthermore, due to its honey comb structure, the mechanical strength is anisotropic, and its elastic modulus along a direction with small mechanical strength is substantially the same as that of a conventional porous film.
On the other hand, a three-dimensional organic polymer film with a diamond structure has a bonding with high polarity in the molecular structure of the polymer. Specifically, a three-dimensional organic polymer film with a diamond structure has a polyimide structure, a polyimidazole structure or a polyoxazole structure, and such a structure has nitrogen or oxygen designated as a hetero atom. C═O of the polyimide structure, N—H of the polyimidazole structure and —O— of the polyoxazole structure all have high polarizability and an effect to increase the dielectric constant as well as a function to increase the hygroscopicity.
Accordingly, in order to lower the dielectric constant of a three-dimensional organic polymer film with a diamond structure, it is necessary to reduce the density, but when the density is reduced, the mechanical strength is disadvantageously lowered.

Interlayer insulating film, method for forming the same and polymer composition


A content addressable memory cell is described. In one embodiment, the content addressable memory cell includes first and second resistive memory elements being coupled in a first series connection and being connected between a first potential value and a second potential value being smaller than said first potential value, and means for their switching between states exhibiting different electric resistance values. The memory cell includes a first field effect transistor and a second field effect transistor, said first and second transistors having drain-source-paths and gate electrodes, said drain-source-paths of said first and second transistors being connected in a second series connection and being connected to at least one of first current lines. The first current line is connected to a potential value level detector for sensing a potential difference as to said third potential value.

In the modern communication industry there is often a need to determine associative relationships between data elements. In order to meet this need, a content addressable memory (CAM) is used to make a comparison of an input data value and a stored data value in the CAM cell. For example, a CAM cell array contained within a network router would determine whether there is an association between the address in the packet header and the addresses of the computers in the network. In determining the association, a search and comparison method must be performed between the address in the packet header and all the addresses in the network. This search and comparison is both time and resource intensive using traditional solutions involving convenient RAM-technology. Contrary to that, CAM-technology provides much faster search and compare operations.
More particularly, a CAM is a memory device with two modes of access. In one mode, the CAM works as a normal random access memory, wherein the contents of the memory are read and written at specified addresses. In a second mode, the CAM compares the specified string, often called the comparand with the information stored in its memory cells and then generates signals which indicate if a match between the comparand and any of the information in the memory was found.
Typical circuitry of a 10 transistor-SRAM based CAM-cell includes a standard 6 Transistor-SRAM cell for storage and a 4 Transistor-comparator. Both of these functions use a relatively large area because of the large number of devices connected on very few internal nodes (need for several metal levels to insure interconnections as for instance each storage node is connected to 6 transistors, only 2 adjacent devices can be efficiently connected together without area consuming interconnections). Additionally, a very poor balance between the number of P-channels (2T) and N-channels (8T) forces an imperfect layout with some empty spots. Typically, such circuitry requires much area per memory cell.
In view of the above, there is a need to provide a CAM cell allowing a further memory cell size down-scale as compared to conventional CAM cells.

Content addressable memory cell including resistive memory elements


A method for executing a data processing pipeline may be provided. The method may include identifying a file providing a runtime environment required for executing a series of data processing operations comprising the data processing pipeline. The file may be identified based on one or more tags associated with the data processing pipeline. The one or more tags may specify at least one runtime requirement for the series of data processing operations. The file may be executed to generate an executable package that includes a plurality of components required for executing the series of data processing operations. The series of data processing operations included in the data processing pipeline may be executed by at least executing the executable package to provide the runtime environment required for executing the series of data processing operations. Related systems and articles of manufacture, including computer program products, are also provided.

Data processing may refer to the collection and/or manipulation of data including, for example, validation, sorting, summarization, aggregation, analysis, reporting, classification, and/or the like. But traditional data processing applications may be inadequate for handling exceptionally voluminous and/or complex data sets known as "big data." Instead, big data may require big data processing applications having advanced capabilities specifically tailored for the ingestion, cleansing, storage, analysis, sharing, transformation, and/or visualization of exceptionally voluminous and/or complex data sets.