A liquid level sensing assembly employs an inductive or magnetic coupling to wirelessly communicate a plurality of signals based on a changing level of wastewater in a tank to a first coil of a pump/alarm control circuit in the grinder pump. The assembly includes at least one liquid level sensor operable in response to the changing level of the wastewater, a second coil positionable adjacent to the first coil in the grinder pump, and a transponder for extracting electrical energy using the second coil in response to the first coil. The transponder is operably connected to the at least one liquid level sensor and operable to wirelessly transmit from the second coil to the first coil the plurality of signals based on the state of the at least one liquid level sensor due to the changing level of the wastewater in the tank.

Grinder pumps are often used in low-pressure wastewater systems for pumping wastewater. The grinder pumps include a grinder mechanism for cutting or grinding solids or semisolid matter in the wastewater being pumped. Grinding solids and/or semisolid matter in the wastewater allows the resulting particulate effluent to be transferred through small diameter pipes without clogging.
Conventional grinder pump systems are typically equipped with level sensors and an alarm. When the wastewater reaches a certain level in the tank, the pump automatically switches on and when the wastewater in the tank falls below a certain level, the pump automatically turns off. If the level rises too high, typically another sensor activates an alarm. Conventional level sensors include mechanical float switches, sensing tubes connected to pressure transducers, ultrasonic transducers, and capacitive level sensors. Wires connect the sensors to a circuit for controlling the grinder pump and an alarm. Where a low-level sensor fails, the grinder pump may be operated in response to a high-level alarm so that the grinder pump cycles on and off and maintains the level of the wastewater near the high level position.
There is a need for further liquid level sensing assemblies for grinder pump assemblies.

Wireless liquid level sensing assemblies and grinder pump assemblies employing the same


A pant type absorbent article such as a pant diaper, a sanitary pant or incontinence pant, the article having a core region including an absorbent core and a chassis region surrounding the core region. The article at least in part of the chassis region has an outer coversheet in the form of an elastic laminate having a Softness (S) according to Kawabata of at least 20. The laminate includes first and second layers of fibrous material and an elastic film layer located between the first and second fibrous layers.

Absorbent articles having defined core regions and chassis regions are supposed to have a comfortable fit about the wearer. For pant articles like pant diapers, sanitary pants and incontinence pants it is also desirable that the articles are capable of being pulled up and down over the hips of the wearer to allow the wearer or caregiver to easily put on and remove the article when it has been soiled. It is thus known to make such absorbent pants with elasticized stretchable side panels and waist portion, usually comprising elastic members, such as elastic threads, contractably affixed between the backsheet and the topsheet.
It is further known to make portions of the chassis of absorbent articles of an elastic material, such as stretch-bonded laminates. Such laminates may include a layer of meltblown elastomeric fibers which have been stretched and sandwiched between outer layers of spunbonded webs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,552,245 discloses an extensible outer cover for an absorbent article which provides a certain permanent deformation when subjected to a tensile force. The extensible outer cover comprises a necked laminate in the form of one film sheet laminated to a necked film. Both films may be non-elastic. The films may further be breathable.
WO 03/047488 discloses an elastic laminate comprising an elastic film which on opposite sides is bonded to first and second non-elastic fibrous layers. The laminate is made by bonding the non-elastic fibrous layers to the elastic film layer and after that stretch the composite material causing the non-elastic materials to break. The elastic film material may be of a breathable material. The laminate may be incorporated in an absorbent article.
Further examples of absorbent articles which in part are made of elastic laminates are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,289 and JP 10043235.
There is however still room for improvement with respect to comfort, fit and cloth-like feel of absorbent articles of the above mentioned type.

Absorbent article comprising an elastic laminate


An optical scanner includes a single deflector to optically scan a plurality of target surfaces to be scanned. The deflector has a common rotary axis for deflecting reflective surfaces and is shared by all the beams from a plurality of light sources. The optical scanner includes photodetectors arranged to receive the beams deflected at the deflector. The beams traveling toward the deflector have an open angle in a deflecting rotation plane. A scanning optical system for guiding the deflected beam to the corresponding target surface includes two or more scanning lenses. A scanning lens proximate to the target surface passes only the beams traveling toward the same target surface. Scanning lenses proximate to the target surfaces for guiding the beams to different target surfaces have optical actions different from each other.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical scanner and an image forming apparatus.
2) Description of the Related Art
An optical scanner may employ a single deflector to optically scan plural target surfaces. The optical scanner is used in an image forming device to form a color image as is known in the art. When such optical scan mode is applied to a color image forming device, it is not required to use the deflector more than one. In this case, the number of plural light sources required is equal to or more than that of the target surfaces (the number equal to that of the target surfaces in a single beam scan mode, and the number equal to or more than that of the target surfaces in a multi-beam scan mode). In addition, as the light sources are arranged separately, the number of components for light source arrangement increases. When environmental fluctuations and the like cause relative variations in optical scanning with beams from the light sources, the variations raise a phenomenon called "out-of-color registration", which deteriorates the image quality in a color image to be formed.
Proposed as a configuration of the above optical scanner is a "system that passes plural beams traveling toward different target surface" through a scanning lens proximate to the deflector (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-4948).
This optical scanner can reduce the out-of-color registration due to the environmental variation because plural beams traveling toward different target surfaces pass through the same scanning lens. In this case, however, plural beams traveling toward the deflector have no open angle in a deflecting rotation plane. Therefore, it is required to locate an additional optical path deflector such as a prism before the deflector, which increases the number of components and easily invites cost-elevation. The optical path deflector, for example, the prism easily causes a deteriorated optical characteristic and a reduced utilization efficiency of light.
In the conventional color image forming device, "photodetectors operative to receive deflected beams" for use in timing control of optical scanning are arranged individually as corresponding to different target surfaces. This arrangement invites an increase in the number of components and cost-elevation. In addition, if relative arrangements of the photodetectors fluctuate due to environmental variations, initial positions of optical scanning in the target surfaces may be changed relatively to cause the out-of-color registration in a color image to be formed.
In recent years, for achievement of color digital copiers and color laser printers with higher recording speeds, different colored-images are formed on plural target surfaces. These images are then sequentially transferred onto a recording medium to complete a color image. Such devices have been known widely as so-called "tandem type color image forming devices".
Proposed as such the tandem type color image forming device is an optical scanner that includes a single deflector sandwiched between scanning optical systems arranged at both sides thereof to optically scan four photosensitive members at the same time (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-90672).
The higher the image quality of color images to be formed, the more the reduction of light spot diameters proceeds. In order to reduce a light spot diameter, another proposal is given to a scanning lens. This scanning lens employs a special toric surface, which has the varying radius of a sub scan curvature from the optical axis of the lens surface to peripheries in the main scan direction (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-324689).
In the tandem type color image forming device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-90672, beams from a plurality of light sources enter a light deflector while having an "open angle" in a deflecting rotation plane toward the light deflector. Therefore, they have different average incident angles to the optical axis of the scanning optical system, resulting in a sag-effected deterioration of optical characteristics, particularly curvature of the image plane in the sub scan direction, which makes it difficult to reduce light spot diameters.

Optical scanner and image forming apparatus


A facsimile apparatus capable of sending and receiving image data by use of a transmission control procedure based on the G3 (Group III) standard of ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union--Telecommunication Standardization Sector) Recommendations, and a transmission control procedure based on ITU-T Recommendation V.34. Whether or not to continue resending image data is determined on the basis of a resending condition or conditions known by a transmitting station or a receiving station. The apparatus enhances efficient communication and reliability.

The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving image data by use of a transmission control procedure based on the G3 (Group III) standard of ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union--Telecommunication Standardization Sector) and a transmission control procedure based on ITU-T Recommendation V.34. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a facsimile apparatus capable of selecting the data rate of a modem automatically in order to increase the communication rate and reliability.
It is a common practice with a G3 facsimile apparatus to cause a transmitting station to send, at the last stage of Phase B, a training signal of a transmission rate particular to image data to be sent to a receiving station, thereby determining a transmission rate. Specifically, the transmitting and receiving stations try to send image data at the highest possible transmission rate. If the transmission at such a transmission rate fails, the two stations shift down the rate to one allowing image data to be successfully sent. In this manner, it has been customary to only shift down the transmission rate in accordance with the circumstance.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 6-209409 discloses a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving image data in ECM (Error Correction Mode). This apparatus sends a PPS-EOM (Pulse Per Second-End Of Message) signal at the end of transmission of one page, returns to Phase B, sets up a transmission rate higher than the rate assigned to the above page, and then executes training check. With this apparatus, it is possible to increase the transmission rate in accordance with the circumstance. However, the problem is that the apparatus does not allow a receiving station to change the transmission rate, and simply relies on the accidental occurrence of an error in changing the transmission rate.
On the other hand, a procedure supplementary to the G3 transmission control procedure, e.g., the procedure prescribed by ITU-T Recommendation V.34, allows a receiving facsimile station to shift down or shift up the transmission rate while the transmission of image data is under way.
Specifically, ITU-T Recommendation V.34 pertains to modems operable at data rates of up to 28,800 bps (bits per second) and applicable to general telephone networks and two-wire point-to-point telephone type exclusive circuits. While Recommendation kV.34 prescribes a modem rate redetermining protocol between pages, how such a protocol is applied is open to choice. Generally, ITU-T ECM is essential when image data are sent by the ITU-T Recommendation V.34 control procedure. With ECM, the transmitting station can automatically resend the error frames included in image data. Specifically, the receiving station informs the transmitting station of the positions of error frames included in received image data, requesting the transmitting station to resend such frames. When errors do not disappear despite repeated resending, the transmitting station executes a shift-down protocol for lowering the data rate and again resends the error frames.
However, in the ITU-T Recommendation V.34 control procedure, the data rate is not determined by the protocol, but determined by a modem sequence at the beginning of communication. Moreover, because a shift-down procedure is executed by a control channel between pages before the start of protocol, a shift-down cannot be determined on the basis of resend request information sent from the receiving station. This obstructs the increase in communication efficiency and the decrease in communication cost. While a shift-down request can be sent not only from the transmitting station but also from the receiving station, a parameter or parameters on which the shift-down request is based are indefinite. As a result, the shift-down is effected arbitrarily.

Facsimile apparatus, facsimile method, and facsimile system including a modem for determining a data rate


A timing controller includes a receiver and a clock generator connected to output terminals of the receiver. The clock generator receives an external clock signal through the receiver and periodically modulates a frequency of the external clock signal to generate a modulation clock signal that is used to process a plurality of pixel data. The clock generator controls a delay time of the modulation clock signal based on a modulation rate of the frequency of the modulation clock signal. According to the timing controller, circuit blocks connected to output terminals of the clock generator are operated by the modulation clock signal. Thus, the circuit blocks operated by the delayed modulation clock signal may be prevented from malfunction due to electromagnetic interference.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a timing controller that controls a timing of image data, a method of processing data using the timing controller, and a display apparatus having the timing controller.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In general, a timing controller writes image data that is input in synchronization with a clock signal in its internal memory or reads out the image data from its internal memory in synchronization with the clock signal. That is, the timing controller uses an external clock signal as an internal clock signal and controls input and output operations of the memory using the internal clock signal.
In the case that the timing controller operates a display apparatus having a high resolution, however, an operation speed of the memory driven by the external clock signal becomes faster as the frequency of the external clock signal increases. As a result, a momentary power consumption of the memory rises. As the momentary power consumption rises, electromagnetic interference (EMI) increases. Consequently, a malfunction occurs in the memory.

Timing controller, data processing method using the same and display apparatus having the same


A method and apparatus for tracing operations in multiple computer systems. An embodiment of a method includes running a computer application, where the computer application operates on multiple computer systems, including a first system and a second system. The first system and the second system have different computer environments. A trace of the computer application is performed, with performance of the trace including enabling a first trace of the first system and enabling a second trace of the second system. Trace data is collected from the first system and the second system during the operation of the application, and the trace data from the first system and the trace data from the second system are combined.

In computer operations, it is often necessary to determine why a computer application did not operate as expected. For example, an incorrect result may be provided by the application, the application may require excessive execution time or memory consumption, or the application may otherwise provide operate in an inadequate manner. The result provided by the computer application isn't always helpful in determining what may have occurred in the operation of the computer application.
One process that may be used to determine what occurred in the operation of a computer application is a performance trace. The performance trace may include a process for obtaining the values of the variables used by the application in operation, which may provide clues regarding where problems may be present.
However, in a complex system, a computer application may not be simply running on a particular system, but may rather be required to run on multiple different systems of different types. This type of distributed operation can increase the power and efficiency of operation, allowing the application to utilize each relevant resource in a single overall process, but the distributed application operation also complicates the analysis process if a problem does occur. In this landscape, it is generally not possible to obtain a complete picture of the overall process through a performance trace or similar tool. The systems used by the computer application may be incompatible and may handle their operations in different manners, thereby making it difficult to generate a complete analysis of the application operation.

Tracing operations in multiple computer systems


Semiconductor structures fabricated via extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithographic patterning techniques implementing directional deposition on a EUV resist mask improves selectivity and critical dimension control during the patterning of features in multiple layers of the semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor structure includes a substrate structure having an extreme ultraviolet resist mask disposed over one or more additional layers of the substrate structure. The extreme ultraviolet resist mask defines patterning features. A hard mask layer including a hard mask material is disposed on the extreme ultraviolet resist mask and covers the patterning features of the extreme ultraviolet resist mask.

Various types of multi-patterning photolithography techniques can be utilized to manufacture semiconductor integrated circuits. Such multi-patterning techniques include sidewall image transfer (SIT), self-aligned doubled patterning (SADP), and self-aligned quadruple patterning (SAQP) techniques, for example. The current SIT, SADP and SAQP methods utilize deposition and etch back processes to create uniform memorization and transfer elements. In particular, these techniques involve spacer patterning steps in which spacers are formed on the sidewalk of sacrificial features (e.g., sacrificial mandrels), wherein the sacrificial features are removed to leave a pattern of spacers which is used to etch features into an underlying layer at sub-lithographic dimensions.
For next generation technology nodes, e.g., 10 nm and beyond, these multi-patterning methods will become costlier and more complex because of the need to fabricate and utilize multiple levels of masks (e.g., mandrel mask, block masks, cut masks, etc.) to perform such methods. The use of multiple masks adds considerable design complexity and unwanted process variations due to limitations in mask fabrication technologies. In this regard, the semiconductor industry is considering next-generation EUV lithography technologies to replace or augment such multi-patterning methods. The EUV lithography with exposure wavelengths below 40 nm would allow the semiconductor industry to print features beyond the diffraction limit of the current 193 nm lithography (ArF radiation wavelength). However, EUV lithographic patterning methods require the use of relatively thin EUV resist masks for patterning sub-36 nm pitch features to prevent resist "flop-over." Moreover, EUV resist masks undergo more surface etching (resulting in reduction of mask thickness) as compared to ArF resist mask during drying etch processes such as reactive-ion etching (RIE).

Extreme ultraviolet lithography patterning with directional deposition

International Business Machines Corporation


Photoelectric reflective object sensors are mounted in an exteriorly mounted auxiliary switch case to detect a member on a movable contact assembly of the contactor to produce logic level output signals indicative of the operational state of the contactor electromagnet. One or a pair of photoelectric sensors are used in a side mounted auxiliary switch to detect the contactor movable contact assembly in the energized or de-energized position, or en route between the two positions. A single photoelectric sensor is used in a top adder auxiliary switch to detect if the movable contact assembly is or is not in the extended (de-energized) position. The auxiliary switches provided logic level output signals directly usable with microprocessor based controllers.

This invention relates to electromagnetic contactors and to auxiliary switches used therewith. More particularly this invention relates to improved exteriorly mounted auxiliary switches which do not have physical connection to the operating structure of the contactor. Still more particularly this invention relates to top adder and side mounted auxiliary switches of the aforedescribed type which produce logic level electrical output signals.
Electromagnetic contactors are utilized to switch three phase electric power to a load device such as an electric motor or the like. The contactor comprises three pairs of contacts, one for each phase, within a housing. The contactor housing is provided with means for attachment of an additional contact block, usually on the top or front face of the housing. The additional contact block has its own movable contact assembly which is connectable to the movable contact assembly and electromagnet armature of the contactor to operate the additional set of contacts in conjunction with operation of the primary contacts. The sides of the electromagnetic contactor housing have window openings and provisions for mounting auxiliary switch units to the sides of the contactor housing. The auxiliary switch units are customarily mechanically operated units each having a linearly slidable plunger which has operative physical connection with the movable contact assembly and electromagnet armature of the contactor through the respective window opening. Each of the side mounted auxiliary switch units and the top mounted add on contact block have individual contact members, each of which have springs for providing contact pressure in the contact closed positions. Each of these springs introduces a cumulative force which must be overcome by the electromagnet prior to sealing of the armature to the core, thereby requiring that the electromagnet be designed to provide sufficient force for effecting closing of the maximum number of auxiliary contacts. Moreover, the use of mechanically operated contact mechanisms introduces additional friction and component wear to the device as well as affecting contact electrical and mechanical wear and erosion.
In present day intelligent and diagnostic electrical control systems, it is desirable to provide current information to the system controller as to the status of the various control elements, such as an electromagnetic contactor. It is desirable that the system controller know whether the contactor is operated to a closed condition whereby the armature is sealed to the electromagnet core or if the contactor is in the open position wherein the armature is biased away from the electromagnet core. This could be detected with an electromechanical auxiliary switch wherein one set of contacts are closed when the contactor armature is sealed to the core and another set of contacts are closed when the electromagnetic contactor armature is biased away from the core. However, as aforedescribed, the additional spring and frictional forces as well as the component wear of the electromechanical devices are not desirable. Moreover, the controller is commonly microprocessor based such as a personal computer, programmable controller or the like, and the signals to be provided to the microprocessor should preferably be at the logic level magnitude, not readily attainable in electromechanical devices.

Photoelectric auxiliary switch for electromagnetic contactor


A card connector has an ejecting mechanism and a locking mechanism. The ejecting mechanism has an ejecting slider slidable together with a card in card inserting and ejecting directions. The ejecting slider has an operating part. The locking mechanism has an operated part elastically deformable and a locking portion combined with the operated part. The locking portion is movable between an open position and a closed position of a card inserting/ejecting opening. When the card is inserted, the ejecting slider slides in the inserting direction to separate the operating part from the operated part so that the operated part is deformed in one direction to move the locking portion from the open position to the closed position.

The present invention relates to a card connector and, in particular, to a card connector having an ejecting mechanism for ejecting a card and a locking mechanism for locking the card to inhibit ejection of the card.
As a first conventional technique, a push-push type card connector (hereinafter simply referred to as "connector") will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. This connector is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2001-267013.
The connector depicted at 41 in the figures comprises an insulator 42, a plurality of contacts 43 fixed to the insulator 42, an ejecting bar 44 mounted on a frame portion 42A of the insulator 42, a compression coil spring 45, and a cam follower 46. A card 51 is inserted into the connector 41 in an inserting direction and is ejected from the connector 41 in an ejecting direction opposite to the inserting direction. The compression coil spring 45 serves to continuously bias the ejecting bar 44 in the ejecting direction. The cam follower 46 is guided by a heart cam 44C formed on the ejecting bar 44.
More specifically, the insulator 42 is made of a synthetic resin and has a generally rectangular shape with frame portions 42A, 42B, and 42C formed on its three sides. Each of the contacts 43 has a convex contact portion 43A formed at its one end and a flat contact portion 43B formed at the other end. The ejecting bar 44 is made of a synthetic resin and has a generally L shape with a guide portion 44A and a right-angle bent portion 44B. The heart cam 44C is formed on one surface of the guide portion 44A. The bent portion 44B has a card butting portion 44D. When the card 51 is inserted into the connector 41, a forward end of the card 51 is butted against the card butting portion 44D. The guide portion 44A of the ejecting bar 44 is slidably received in a groove (not shown) formed in the frame portion 42A and having a U-shaped section. The compression coil spring 45 is inserted into a groove 44E formed on the one surface of the guide portion 44A. The compression coil spring 45 has one end press-contacted with the ejecting bar 44 and the other end press-contacted with an inner surface of the frame portion 42C. Hence, the ejecting bar 44 is continuously biased by the compression coil spring 45 in the ejecting direction. The cam follower 46 is made of metal and has a lever-like shape. The cam follower 46 is disposed in a cutout 42D formed outside the frame portion 42A to be rotatable by a predetermined angle. A hole 46A is formed at a base of the cam follower 46 and fitted over a shaft 42E formed on the frame portion 42A. Further, a guide pin 46B formed at an end of the cam follower 46 by bending passes through a hole (not shown) formed in the frame portion 42A to be engaged with a cam groove of the heart cam 44C.
The connector 41 is entirely covered with a rectangular cover (not shown).
Referring to FIG. 4, the heart cam 44C of the ejecting bar 44 will be described in detail. The heart cam 44C is formed on the one surface of the guide portion 44A of the ejecting bar 44. The heart cam 44C is formed as a circulating guide rail (cam groove) including a start point C-1 of movement of the guide pin 46B of the cam follower 46, a guide portion C-2 inclined with respect to a sliding direction of the ejecting bar 44, a heart-shaped recessed portion C-3, a guide portion C-4 parallel to the sliding direction of the ejecting bar 44, and an end point C-5 of movement of the guide pin 46B, that is, the start point C-1. In a free state, the guide pin 46B is biased downward in FIG. 4 by elasticity of the cam follower 46.
Referring to FIGS. 3A to 3E and 4, operations of inserting (fitting) and ejecting (removing) the card 51 into and from the connector 41 will be described.
At first, FIG. 3A shows the free state where a part of the card 51 is inserted into the connector 41. At this time, in FIG. 4, the guide pin 46B of the cam follower 46 is located at the start point C-1 of the heart cam 44C.
Next, in FIG. 3B, when the card 51 is pushed into the connector 41, the forward end of the card 51 is butted against the card butting portion 44D of the ejecting bar 44. As a consequence, the card 51 and the ejecting bar 44 slide together into the connector 41 against a compressive force of the compression coil spring 45. In this state, in FIG. 4, the guide pin 46B in the heart cam 44C is located at the guide portion C-2 inclined with respect to the sliding direction of the ejecting bar 44.
Next, the card 51 is pushed to a maximum stroke and thereafter pushing of the card 51 is stopped. Then, the card 51 and the ejecting bar 44 are slightly returned by a restoring force of the compression coil spring 45 to reach a fitting state shown in FIG. 3C. In the fitting state in FIG. 3C, a plurality of pads (not shown) of the card 51 are brought into contact with the convex contact portions 43A of the contacts 43. In this state, in FIG. 4, the guide pin 46B enters into and located in the heart-shaped recessed portion C-3 of the heart cam 44C. In this manner, the operation of fitting the card 51 is completed.
The card 51 is again pushed to the maximum stroke and thereafter pushing of the card 51 is stopped. Then, in FIG. 4, the guide pin 46B escapes from the heart-shaped recessed portion C-3 of the heart cam 44C, passes the guide portion C-4 parallel to the sliding direction of the ejecting bar 44, and reaches the end point C-5, that is, the start point C-1. Under the restoring force of the compression coil spring 45, the card 51 and the ejecting bar 44 pass the state shown in FIG. 3D and reach the state shown in FIG. 3E. In this manner, the operation of ejecting the card 51 is completed.
In the first conventional technique described above, the heart cam 44C is formed on the ejecting bar 44 and the cam follower 46 is formed on the insulator 42. However, the above-mentioned structure may be modified in such a manner that the heart cam is formed on the insulator and the cam follower is formed on the ejecting bar.
Referring to FIGS. 5 through 10, a card connector having a half locking mechanism and a full locking mechanism will be described as a second conventional technique. The card connector of the type is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 11-149956.
In FIGS. 5 and 6, a body 61 has a head portion 71 and a pair of arm portions 72 and 73 extending backward from opposite ends of the head portion 71. A space surrounded by the head portion 71 and the arm portions 72 and 73 is defined as a card set space 74. A plurality of contacts (not shown) are arranged in the head portion 71 in parallel to one another at predetermined intervals. Further, a plurality of terminals 75 connected to the respective contacts protrude on a front side of the head portion 71. The arm portions 72 and 73 are provided with guide grooves 76 and 77 extending long in extending directions thereof. The guide grooves 76 and 77 serve to guide opposite lateral ends of a card 100 so that the card 100 is inserted into the card set space 74 or removed from the card set space 74. In a state where the card 100 is inserted into the card set space 74, the contacts are brought into elastic contact with an external electrode (not shown) equipped in the card 100 to achieve electrical connection.
In the body 61, one arm portion 73 has a groove 78 extending obliquely across the arm portion 73. Wall surfaces of the groove 78 serve as guide surfaces 79 for guiding a slider 64 which will later be described. The guide surfaces 79 are inclined to be closer to a center line L—L of the card set space 74 in a forward direction A.
A movable member 63 comprising a metal cover is arranged across the arm portions 72 and 73 on both sides of the body 61. The movable member 63 has a top plate portion 91 and side plate portions 92, 92 connected to both lateral ends of the top plate portion 91 and is held by the body 61 to be slidable in a back-and-forth direction X (to be movable backward and forward).
As will be understood from FIGS. 5, 6, and 8 in combination, the top plate portion 91 of the movable member 63 is provided with cut and bent portions formed on both sides thereof and protruding inward in the card set space 94. The cut and bent portions serve as engaging portions 93, 93.
Further, as will be understood from FIGS. 5, 6, and 9 in combination, the top plate portion 91 is provided with a cut and bent portion formed at the center thereof and protruding outward. The cut and bent portion serves as a connecting portion 94 for cooperation with a locking member which will later be described. The top plate portion 91 further has an elongated engaging hole 95. The engaging hole 95 is one example of a guiding portion.
In FIGS. 5 to 7, the slider 64 is fitted in the groove 78 of the body 61 and is guided inward and outward along the guide surfaces 79. The slider 64 is provided with an engaging portion 101 formed at an inner end thereof. Further, the slider 64 is provided with a protrusion 102 protruding upward. The protrusion 102 is one example of a guided portion to be guided and may be integrally formed together with the slider 64 by the use of synthetic resin. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, a pin 104 having a flange 103 may be formed on the slider 64 to protrude therefrom.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the protrusion 102 of the slider 64 fitted in the groove 78 is engaged with the engaging hole 95 of the movable member 63. When the movable member 63 moves in the forward direction A, the protrusion 102 engaged with the engaging hole 95 is pulled by the movable member 63 in the forward direction A. Consequently, the slider 64 is moved inward along the guide surfaces 79 as shown by an arrow E in FIG. 6. In a state where the movable member 63 reaches an advanced position, the engaging portion 101 of the slider 64 protrudes inward from the arm portion 73 into the card set space 74. On the other hand, when the movable member 63 is retracted from the advanced position, the protrusion 102 engaged with the engaging hole 95 is pulled by the movable member 63 in a backward direction B. Consequently, the slider 64 is moved outward along the guide surfaces 79 and the engaging portion 101 of the slider 64 is retracted from the card set space 74.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a recess H is formed at a lateral side of the card 100. As shown in FIG. 10, the recess H may be formed by denting a part of the card 100 throughout an entire thickness.
In the card connector mentioned above, in an initial state where the card 100 is not inserted into the card set space 74, the movable member 63 is located at a retracted position and the engaging portion 101 of the slider 64 is retracted outside the card set space 74, as shown in FIG. 5.
When the card 100 is put into the guide grooves 76 and 77 from the initial state and inserted into the card set space 74, the card 100 is guided by the guide grooves 76 and 77. During insertion of the card 100 into the card set space 74 in this manner, a forward end F of the card 100 is engaged with the engaging portion 93 as shown in FIG. 5 and the movable member 63 is pushed by the card 100 in the forward direction A to move forward. When the movable member 63 is moved forward in this manner, the slider 64 is pulled forward together with the protrusion 102 engaged with the engaging hole 95 of the movable member 63. As a result, the slider 64 is moved inward along the guide surfaces 79. Then, when the movable member 63 reaches the advanced position, i.e., when the card 100 reaches the card set space 74, the engaging portion 101 formed on the slider 64 protrudes into the card set space 74 to be fitted in the recess H of the card 100. Consequently, the card 100 is locked at that position. At this time, the card 100 is locked in a half-locked state. In the half-locked state, when the card 100 inserted into the card set space 74 is pulled in a retracting direction (in the backward direction B) by a small pull-out force, the engaging portion 101 is kept fitted in the recess H of the card 100 to prevent the card 100 from being pulled out. However, when the pull-out force is larger than a certain value, the pull-out force is transmitted to the slider 64 via engagement between the engaging portion 101 and the recess H of the card 100. Therefore, the slider 64 is moved outward along the guide surfaces 79. Consequently, the engaging portion 101 of the slider 64 is removed from the recess H of the card 100 and retracted from the card set space 74 to cancel the state where the card 100 is prevented by the engaging portion 101 from being pulled out. Therefore, the card 100 is pulled out and ejected. Following the outward movement of the slider 64, the movable member 63 is retracted.
The above-mentioned card connector by itself has only a half-locking function. However, since the top plate portion 91 of the movable member 63 has the connecting portion 94 formed by cutting and bending to protrude outward, it is easily possible to provide the card connector with a full-locking function by utilizing the connecting portion 94.
The card connector of the first conventional technique is disadvantageous in that, when the compression coil spring 45 presses the ejecting bar 44 upon ejecting the card 51, the card 51 often jumps out from the ejecting bar 44.
In the card connector of the second conventional technique, in the half-locked state, the card is ejected if the card is pulled by a large force. In the full-locked state, the card is not ejected even if the card is pulled by a large force. However, an operation of setting the connector into the full-locking state is troublesome and the mechanism is complicated and requires an increased number of parts.

Japan Aviation Elecfronics Industry, Limited


Software configuration deployment techniques for disaggregated computing architectures, platforms, and systems are provided herein. In one example, a method includes presenting a user interface configured to receive instructions related to deployment of software to compute units, and receiving user selections of a software element for deployment to a compute unit comprising a processing element and a storage element. Responsive to the user selections, the method includes instructing a management processor of a communication fabric to deploy the software element for use by the compute unit by at least establishing a first partitioning in the communication fabric between the management processor and the storage element, deploying the software element to the storage element using the first partitioning, de-establishing the first partitioning, and establishing a second partitioning in the communication fabric between the processing element and the storage element comprising the software element, wherein the processing element operates using the software element.

Computer systems typically include bulk storage systems, such as magnetic disk drives, optical storage devices, tape drives, or solid state storage drives, among other storage systems. As storage needs have increased in these computer systems, networked storage systems have been introduced which store large amounts of data in a storage environment physically separate from end user computer devices. These networked storage systems typically provide access to bulk data storage over one or more network interfaces to end users or other external systems. In addition to storage of data, remote computing systems include various processing systems that can provide remote computing resources to end users. These networked storage systems and remote computing systems can be included in high-density installations, such as rack-mounted environments.
However, as the densities of networked storage systems and remote computing systems increase, various physical limitations can be reached. These limitations include density limitations based on the underlying storage technology, such as in the example of large arrays of rotating magnetic media storage systems. These limitations can also include computing density limitations based on the various physical space requirements for network interconnect as well as the large space requirements for environmental climate control systems.
In addition to physical space limitations, these bulk storage systems have been traditionally limited in the number of devices that can be included per host, which can be problematic in storage environments where higher capacity, redundancy, and reliability is desired. These shortcomings can be especially pronounced with the increasing data storage and retrieval needs in networked, cloud, and enterprise environments.
Overview
Software configuration deployment techniques for disaggregated computing architectures, platforms, and systems are provided herein. In one example, a method includes presenting a user interface configured to receive instructions related to deployment of software to compute units, and receiving user selections of a software element for deployment to a compute unit comprising a processing element and a storage element. Responsive to the user selections, the method includes instructing a management processor of a communication fabric to deploy the software element for use by the compute unit by at least establishing a first partitioning in the communication fabric between the management processor and the storage element, deploying the software element to the storage element using the first partitioning, de-establishing the first partitioning, and establishing a second partitioning in the communication fabric between the processing element and the storage element comprising the software element, wherein the processing element operates using the software element.
This Overview is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. It may be understood that this Overview is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Software deployment over communication fabrics


A perforated metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) structure for single biomolecule, virus, or single cell detection is disclosed. The structure includes a nanochannel formed through a sensing region configured to allow a solution containing particles to pass through the perforated MOS sensor. First and second terminals are configured to measure electrical parameters representative of change of electrical characteristics of the solution as the particle passes through the perforated MOS structure.

Over the past few decades, the ability to measure, separate, and discriminate microscopic particles has improved. Tools are now available to probe individual cells. These tools are often complicated, expensive, and require sophisticated measurements techniques. For example, testing a water sample for certain waterborne particles (e.g., bacteria) can require equipment with significant sophistication. Furthermore, where presence of particles is to be detected and nature of particles measured based on a statistical approach (i.e., hundreds and thousands of samples are to be tested), such an approach adds further sophistication to testing equipment.
Single-biomolecule detection has been proposed using a variety of techniques such as mass spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, patch clamp, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy with enhanced imaging using photomultiplier tubes or avalanche photodiodes, atomic force microscopy, and nano-manipulator and nano-resonator technologies [50-51]. In many of these techniques, the observation of one molecule requires its prior isolation. Other considerations including sample preparation, sensitivity, and specificity in each of these techniques limit their applications to specific categories of biomolecules.
In various applications where it is desired to obtain information about nucleotides (T, A, C, or G) of a DNA or RNA strand, such information is not readily available with modern detection arrangements.
Therefore, there is an unmet need for a tester arrangement capable of detecting and measuring particles of various sizes that can be scaled up to provide statistical results based on detecting large numbers of samples.
The attached drawings are for purposes of illustration and are not necessarily to scale.

Perforated MOS structure for single biomolecule detection


A bumper for motor vehicles, comprises a dimensionally stable supporting bracket and an elastic covering which forms the front end area of the vehicle body and on which at least bone lamp compartment is constructed for receiving a lamp compartment. In order to, when the lamp compartment is arranged on the edge side on the covering, on the one hand, achieve a fastening of the covering that is appropriate for its functioning and, on the other hand, ensure a no-damage backward escaping of the lamp unit after the effect of force as well as a subsequent returning into the original position, the lamp compartment rests, at least in sections, on a supporting element which is constructed in a sword shape and is disposed to carry out relative movements.

The present invention relates to a bumper for vehicles, and, more particularly, to a bumper for motor vehicles, comprising a dimensionally stable supporting bracket and an elastic covering forming a front end area of a body of the motor vehicle and on which at least one lamp compartment is constructed for receiving a lamp unit.
In the case of a known vehicle such as the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 and 4, a bumper is provided in the forward area which comprises a dimensionally stable supporting bracket and an elastic covering forming the front end area of the vehicle. One lamp compartment respectively for accommodating a lamp unit is provided on the large-surface covering on both sides of a license plate. The two lamp compartments are provided in a center area of the covering so that an upper edge of the covering can be continuously fastened to the adjacent vehicle body.
When the lamp compartment is arranged on the edge side or the lamp unit is fastened to the covering, it is an object of the present invention to take such measures that, on the one hand, the covering is fastened in this area in a manner that is appropriate for its functioning (no sagging) and that, on the other hand, in the case of an pendulum impact of 30.degree., the lamp unit can yield backwards without being damaged and, after being acted upon by the impact, can return to its original position.
This object has been achieved according to the invention by providing that wherein at least one lamp compartment arranged on an edge side of the covering rests, t least in sections, on a supporting element having a sword-shaped configuration and operatively arranged to carry out relative movements.
Principal advantages achieved with the invention are that, as a result of the arrangement of a sword-shaped supporting element which is disposed so that it can carry out relative movements below the lamp compartment constructed on the side of the edge on the covering, on the one hand, a sagging of the covering is avoided and that, on the other hand, in the case of a 30.degree. pendulum impact, the lamp unit can escape toward the rear without any damage and can, after it has been acted upon by the impact, return into its original position. On one of its ends, the supporting element is rotatably arranged on a wheel-housing-side holder, whereas the other end of the supporting element is slidably held in position on a receiving device of the dimensionally stable supporting bracket. The receiving device is constructed on the end side on the dimensionally stable supporting bracket.
Recesses which are provided on the lamp compartment between the two lamps to be received, cause a predetermined bending point of the lamp compartment when it is acted upon by an impact and absorb the change of length of the lamp compartment during the deformation. The supporting element is arched upwards in order to generate a prestressing for the covering.


New word detection and domain dictionary recommendation are provided. When text content is received according to a given language, for example, Chinese language, words are extracted from the content by analyzing the content according to a variety of rules. The words then are ranked for inclusion into one or more lexicons or domain dictionaries for future use for such functionalities as text input methods, spellchecking, grammar checking, auto entry completion, definition, and the like. In addition, when a user is entering or editing text according to one or more prescribed domain dictionaries, a determination may be made as to whether more helpful domain dictionaries may be available. When entered words have a high degree of association with a given domain dictionary, that domain dictionary may be recommended to the user to increase the accuracy of the user's input of additional text and editing of existing text.

With the great increase in Internet functionality, information transfer and electronic document production and use, more and more new words are being created and spread among users, and more and more words are being used in electronic document creation and use that are associated with a variety of different domain dictionaries.
When new words are received from one or more sources, for example, an Internet web page, electronic mail message, text message, electronic document, or the like, such words may not be recognized as belonging to a given domain dictionary, for example, a domain dictionary associated with a word processing application, and thus, such functionalities as text input methods, spellchecking, grammar checking, auto entry completion, and the like, may not be available for those new words. This may be particularly problematic with complex languages such as the Chinese language that are comprised of strings of characters not broken into words by spaces or other demarcation or separation indicia.
In addition, oftentimes a user may be inputting information (e.g., text) via a given software functionality, for example, a word processing application, that is associated with a given domain dictionary, for example, a standard English language, Chinese language, or other standard language domain dictionary, but the user may be inputting text associated with a more particular domain, for example, a medical terminology domain. If the user is not aware of the availability of the domain dictionary (e.g., a medical terminology domain dictionary) associated with his/her text input, the user may be losing the valuable resources of the available domain dictionary.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

Word detection and domain dictionary recommendation


A video signal recording apparatus is capable of compressing the amount of information of a video signal sequentially containing a plurality of pictures correlated to one another. In this compression, the video signal recording apparatus can selectively assume an intrapicture coding mode for executing compression by using only a correlation within each of pictures of the video signal and an interpicture coding mode for executing compression by using a correlation between a plurality of pictures of the video signal. When a video signal the amount of information of which is compressed is to be recorded on a recording medium, the video signal recording apparatus starts recording with a video signal compressed in the intrapicture coding mode. When a video signal compressed by variable-length coding is to be recorded while sequentially forming a multiplicity of tracks on a recording medium, the video signal recording apparatus begins recording a picture to be recorded immediately after the start of recording, at the forefront of the tracks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording a moving image and, more particularly, to an apparatus capable of compressing the amount of information by using a correlation between pictures or to an apparatus capable of effecting compression so that each picture has a different amount of information.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital video tape recorder (VTR) is known as one type of image recording apparatus arranged to digitally compress moving-image information and record the digitally compressed moving-image information on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape. It is also known that there are two types of compression systems: a compression system using a fixed-length coding method and a compression system using a variable-length coding method.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the arrangement of a conventional example of an image recording and reproducing apparatus using the fixed-length coding method. An analog image signal indicative of a moving image to be recorded is inputted through an input terminal 10. An A/D converter 12 digitizes the analog image signal inputted through the input terminal 10, and a fixed-length coding circuit 14 encodes the output data of the A/D converter 12 by fixed-length coding. A modulating circuit 16 executes suppressed low-frequency modulation of the output of the fixed-length coding circuit 14. The output of the modulating circuit 16 is amplified to a predetermined level by a recording amplifier 18. A switch 20 is arranged to be selectively connected to contacts xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d during recording and reproduction, respectively. The output of the recording amplifier 18 is applied to a magnetic head 22 through the switch 20, whereby the output is recorded on a magnetic tape 24.
During reproduction, the signal recorded on the magnetic tape 24 is reproduced by the magnetic head 22 and the output of the magnetic head 22 is applied toga demodulating circuit 28 through the switch 20 and a reproducing amplifier 26. A fixed-length- decoding circuit 30 is a decoding circuit corresponding to the fixed-length coding circuit 14, and serves to decode the output of the demodulating circuit 28 and output a digital reproduced image signal. The output of the fixed-length decoding circuit 30 is converted into an analog signal by a D/A converter 32, and the analog signal an analog reproduced image signal, is outputted for external use through an output terminal 34.
The fixed-length coding circuit 14 normally adopts a coding method in which the amount of data after coding is kept constant for one picture (one field or one frame). The fixed-length coding method includes a pulse-code modulation (PCM) method accompanied by no compression as well as a method accompanied by digital compression, such as a so-called sub-sampling method and a differential coding (DPCM) method. Since the former method does not at all compress image information during processing, no substantial degradation occurs in image quality. However, a huge amount of data must be recorded and the rate of recording must be increased with the result that a large number of disadvantages occur in terms of hardware design and the recording density and time of a recording medium.
If digital compression is executed by using fixed-length coding, a compression ratio of approximately 1/4 to 1/6 can be achieved. However, if a high-definition television signal such as an HDTV signal is compressed at such a compression ratio, the amount of information to be recorded will still be excessively large. In addition, a considerable degradation in image quality is visually observed.
In contrast, the variable-length coding method using, for example, a Huffman code or an arithmetic code, can achieve a compression ratio of as high as approximately 1/10 to 1/20 without excessively degrading image quality.
However, the variable-length coding method also has a number of problems. In this coding method, the amount of information recorded per picture is basically inconstant and coding is executed by using a correlation between a plurality of pictures. Therefore, according to the variable-length coding method, it is difficult to realize various reproduction functions such as xe2x80x9ceditxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9csearchxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cspecial reproductionxe2x80x9d. This problem is particularly outstanding in the field of a digital VTR using as a recording medium a magnetic tape which is a sequential access medium.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus in which it is possible to easily realize various reproduction functions such as xe2x80x9ceditxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9csearchxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cspecial reproductionxe2x80x9d and which is capable of effecting recording at a high compression ratio without degrading image quality.
To achieve the above-described object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video signal recording apparatus which comprises inputting means for inputting a video signal sequentially containing a plurality of pictures correlated to one another, the video signal having an amount of information, compressing means for compressing the amount of information of the video signal, the compressing means being capable of selectively assuming an intrapicture coding mode for executing compression by using only a correlation within each of pictures of the video signal and an interpicture coding mode for executing compression by using a correlation between a plurality of pictures of the video signal, recording means for recording on a recording medium the video signal the amount of information of which is compressed by the compressing means, operating means for commanding the recording means to start a recording, and controlling means responsive to an operation of the operating means for controlling the compressing means so that a video signal for one picture recorded immediately after the recording means has started the recording becomes a video signal compressed in the intrapicture coding mode.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video signal recording apparatus which comprises inputting means for inputting a video signal sequentially containing a plurality of pictures correlated to one another, the video signal having an amount of information, compressing means for compressing the amount of information of the video signal, the compressing means varying an amount by which information is to be outputted for each picture, operating means for commanding a start of recording of the video signal, and recording means for recording the video signal the amount of information of which is compressed by the compressing means, while sequentially forming a multiplicity of tracks on a recording medium, the recording means being responsive to an operation of the operating means to begin recording a video signal for one picture to be recorded immediately after the start of recording, at the forefront of the tracks.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Recording apparatus able to control the recording of compressed image pictures so that pictures which are necessary to restore the last pictures are recorded


A management system for event management in a computer network includes management interfaces residing on an administrative computers, management engines residing on server computers, and management agents residing on managed computers within the network. The management agent uses alarms corresponding to predefined events to notify the management interface via the management engine if the predefined events occur, thereby allowing the system administrator to administer the managed computer network. The management agents may also include corrective scripts which are automatically executed in response to the predefined event and a connection aging module which releases inactive connections between the management agent and the management engine.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to systems for managing networks of computers and more particularly to systems for monitoring events occurring in a plurality of computers within a computer network.
2. Description of the Background Art
The management of computer networks presents an increasing challenge as the size of these networks grows larger. Computer networks may have a variety of different computers, databases and applications dispersed over a large geographical area and each network component may have different ways of handling information. Ideally these computers are controlled through a relatively small number of "administrative computers" which are dedicated to management and administrative functions, each managing and administrating a large number of the heterogeneous "managed computers."
Management functions include setting and monitoring of various alarms that indicate conditions or "events" requiring management action, the definition and implementation of these actions when the specified events occur, and the monitoring of statistics concerning the operation of the various network computers. This management process can become very complex and time-consuming in large computer networks. Furthermore, the corrective actions for different types of managed computers may vary widely in a highly diverse distributed computing environment. Any given management or administration system used in conjunction with large computer networks is limited by the above factors.
In addition, some aspects of the network communication between computers may impose limitations on the number of computers that can be managed by a given administrative computer. For example, some versions of the UNIX operating system limit the number of computers with which an administration program can simultaneously be connected by limiting the number of data structures in memory that the administration program can use to describe individual network connections. Since computer networks may gradually increase in size, this may become a significant problem in conventional management and administration systems.
Thus it is desirable to provide a management system that is sufficiently flexible to handle the administration of a wide variety and a large number of managed computers in an efficient manner. Such a management system preferably achieves two distinct objectives. First, as the number of managed computers increases, it becomes essential to prevent the systems administrator from becoming overwhelmed with the increasing amount of management information and action required, and to automate these operations as much as possible. Thus it is desirable to include facilities within a management system to avoid presenting the system administrator with excessive amounts of information and to minimize the number of decisions and actions that are required by the system administrator. Secondly, it is desirable to provide a management system that is not limited by aspects of network communications within a given operating system, so that the management system can be scaled to handle increasingly large numbers of computers. Therefore, an improved scalable event management system is needed for administering a distributed computing environment according to the present invention.

Management agent automatically executes corrective scripts in accordance with occurrences of specified events regardless of conditions of management interface and management engine


A power steering assembly has a housing and a ball nut assembly supported on the housing. The ball nut assembly has a ball nut axis. The housing has a first surface between the housing and the ball nut assembly. The ball nut assembly also has a second surface. The second surface rotates on the first surface such that the ball nut assembly rotates relative to the housing on a rotation axis that is transverse to the ball nut axis.

This invention relates in general to power steering assemblies for vehicles and in particular to an improved ball nut assembly of such a power steering assembly.
An automotive vehicle typically includes a power steering assembly to assist in turning steerable wheels of the vehicle. The power steering assembly may include a rack and pinion assembly to convert rotational movement of a steering wheel into linear movement of a steering member. The linear movement of the steering member then turns the steerable wheels. A ball nut assembly may be mounted on the steering member and operably connected to a power source. The power source and ball nut assembly together assist in the linear movement of the steering member in response to rotation of the steering wheel.
The power steering assembly includes a housing for its components. The housing may comprise individual housings that are joined together. For example, the individual housings may be a pinion housing and an outboard housing that are joined together. However, tolerances allowed for casting and machining of the individual housings may result in their misalignment when joined together. The misalignment may result in the ball nut assembly binding, which increases internal friction for the power steering assembly. Thus, it would be desirable to reduce binding in the ball nut assembly due to misalignment of the individual housings.

Ball nut assembly for a power steering assembly of a vehicle


Electrostatographic printing apparatus comprising an endless imaging surface and a blade cleaning station for removing residual toner particles therefrom, the blade cleaning station being positioned on top of the imaging surface at about the twelve o'clock position and includes a cleaner sump housing containing a cleaning blade mounted on the sump to provide front and rear sump portions and in interference with the imaging surface for removing residual toner therefrom, the cleaner sump housing having a passive sump fill baffle mounted thereon to direct residual toner to the front and rear portions of the cleaner sump, the passive sump fill baffle being positioned above and relative to said cleaning blade to split a mass of accumulated residual toner, limit the toner head height and direct residual cleaned toner to both the front and rear sump portions.

The present invention relates to electrostatographic printing apparatus and more particularly to blade cleaning apparatus for use in such a printing system.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,690,544 and 4,681,426 describe and illustrate an electrostatographic printing machine with a removable imaging cartridge which has a belt type imaging surface or photoreceptor with a cleaner housing to remove residual toner material at about the twelve o'clock position on top of the belt. This geometry generally provides satisfactory cleaning and is used in the Xerox 5028 family of products. However, with an increasing desire for further cartridge life, additional cleaning capacity in the cleaner housing is required. In an extended life situation cleaning failure usually takes place according to two modes. Fine line cleaning failures are usually caused by debris such as paper fibers or other small particulate matter that become trapped under the cleaning blade which allows toner to pass under the blade ending up as a streak on the final print. Nicks or tears in the blade also cause fine line failures, but at much lower rate. Broadband cleaning failures occur due to an overfilled condition in the cleaning sump. During cleaning the area in front of the blade tip becomes filled with toner which is constantly in motion and gradually builds up on top of the blade (in a volcano-like fashion) compressing itself upon itself and producing a packing density of toner higher than the normal density of toner. In addition, the cleaning action generates heat and since the cleaner is in relatively close proximity to the heated fuser and precharge erase exposure lamp, the combination of compression due to cleaning force and heat promotes toner agglomeration so that the toner does not readily flow away from the cleaning blade. Ultimately as new toner comes in and tries to move up the face of the cleaning blade and away from the photoreceptor, the blade/imaging surface interface experiences forces reflected down from the toner mass buildup above the blade that changes both the blade tip geometry with respect to the imaging surface and the actual blade force on the imaging surface. As a result, the blade begins to plane on the toner on the imaging surface and the toner passes under the blade which has been lifted off the imaging surface. This begins as a grey patch that comes and goes, but eventually is continuous and gives a wide deposit of toner on the final print.

Passive sump fill baffle for blade cleaning apparatus


The invention relates to a method for the identification of a first microorganism potentially secreting an effector compound, said first microorganism thereby having either i. an inhibitory effect on the cell division activity of a second microorganism or ii. an enhancing effect on the cell division activity of a second microorganism, the method comprising: a. providing a cell from a first microorganism which potentially produces an effector compound of interest and a cell from a second detector microorganism; b. introducing both cells into a microdroplet for incubation; c. introducing the microdroplet into a microfluidic system; d. analyzing in said microfluidic system the cell of the second microorganism for the exhibition of an enhanced growth effect or the exhibition of an inhibited growth effect stemming from said effector compound. The invention also relates to a microorganism or effector compound identified by the method according to the invention.

The production of biological compounds such as sugars, amino acids, antibiotics, carbon sources or nitrogen sources and other chemical building blocks and natural products today is often efficiently performed in microorganisms. With the tools of genetic engineering it is possible to optimize microorganisms for an increased production of compounds. But also microorganisms that occur in the environment or live associated with organisms such as plants, animals or humans produce commercially interesting natural substances or are themselves of commercial interest, e.g. as biofertilizers, biopesticides or probiotics.
These optimized microorganisms are generated using different mutagenic/combinatorial strategies capable to generate large libraries of genetically modified organisms. However, the drawback or bottleneck of all strategies are the screening methods used to analyze individual library members.
The relevant screening methods are dependent on the molecules to be produced, but commonly the screening methods are based on chromatography and subsequent detection, in many cases by mass spectroscopy. A great disadvantage of the methods known in the art is that parallelization and high throughput is difficult to achieve, as the number of clones that can be analyzed is limited.
Accordingly, there is a need for new screening methods, which allow the detection of strains, which show improved properties in the production of compounds, in particular small molecules such as amino acids or sugars or intermediate chemical building blocks, but also in the production of effector molecule that may influence the growth behavior of other cells or microorganisms.
One approach was the use of biosensors for the analysis or identification of small molecules in production media. Pfleger et al. (Pfleger B F, et al.; Metabolic Engineering; 2007; 30-38) describe the generation of a E. coli strain, which is suitable as mevalonate biosensor and expresses GFP in the presence of mevalonate, allowing quantitative detection of mevalonate in an extracellular environment.
Bertels et al. (Bertels, F. et al.; PLoS ONE; 2012; e41349) describe the development of a biosensor for amino acids, based on an auxotrophic E. coli strain comprising the eGFP gene. U.S. Pat. No. 9,279,139 B2 describes an E. coli glutamine biosensor, comprising the lux operon.
However, these methods are still limited, as they do not allow the rapid analysis of large libraries microorganism or of colonies for effector molecules that either stimulate growth of designated microorganism or inhibit its growth.


A rotatable protective cover functioning as a door, that both opens and closes off, an entrance opening of a patient bore in an MRI device is disclosed. The rotatable protective cover comprises a semi-permeable barrier material, MRI shielding, and physical shielding; and is at least partially transparent.

The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a diagnostic tool is a fairly recent innovation in the medical field.
In MRI scanning, the MRI apparatus operates as a large magnet wherein the protons align with the strong magnetic field but are easily disturbed by a brief radio frequency pulse of very low energy so as to alter their alignment. As the protons return to their orientation with the magnetic field, they release energy of a radio frequency that is strongly influenced by the biochemical environment. The released energy is detected and mathematically analyzed for display as a two dimensional proton density image according to the signal intensity of each tissue.
The potential dangers associated with MRI scanners include a strong magnetic field within the apparatus and surrounding area. The magnetic force may convert loose iron, steel and other metal objects into unguided missiles directed at the MRI apparatus and striking personnel within the vicinity of an MRI apparatus, when these objects have been unwittingly introduced into the magnetic field of the MRI system. It is well known in the art that MRI devices are usually located within a shielded room for improved results and also to lessen the impact of the device on surrounding operations. However, the problem persists of metal objects being negligently introduced into the magnetic field by personnel entering the room or the extended magnetic field of the MRI apparatus.
It therefore remains a long felt and unmet need to provide an apparatus having an MRI shield for MRI devices in order to prevent the introduction of iron, steel and other metal objects into the magnetic field of an MRI apparatus.

Rotatable protective cover functioning as a door for MRI system


A high voltage MOS transistor with a gate extension that has a reduced electric field in the drain region near the gate is provided. The high voltage MOS transistor includes a first and second gate layers, and a dielectric layer between the gate layers. The first and second gate layers are electrically coupled together and form the gate of the transistor. The second gate layer extends over the drain of the transistor above the dielectric and gate oxide layers to form the gate extension. The high voltage MOS transistor of the present invention may be fabricated without additional processing steps in BiCMOS and CMOS processes that use dual polysilicon layers and a dielectric layer that are used to form capacitors.

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for high voltage transistors. More specifically, this invention relates to apparatus and methods for high voltage MOS transistors with a gate extension.
Many applications for semiconductor devices require MOS transistors that can operate with high voltages (e.g., greater than 40 volts) at their terminals. At a high drain-to-source voltage and a low gate voltage, the voltage drop between the drain and the gate of an MOS transistor across the gate oxide can produce a large electric field in the portion of the drain that is underneath the gate. If the gate overlaps the drain in a small area and the gate oxide layer is thin, the large electric field can cause a high impact generation rate of carriers that may result in hot carrier injection and breakdown. Hot carrier injection can cause carriers to become trapped in the gate oxide causing the threshold voltage of the transistor to change, which is undesirable. Breakdown may cause undesirable parasitic currents and device failure. A large electric field can also increase stress on the gate oxide layer increasing the chances of a device failure.
One previously known high voltage MOS transistor 10 is shown in FIG. 1A. In transistor 10, thick field oxide 11 is formed over N-type drain region 13, and a portion of gate 12 of transistor 10 is formed along the upper edge of thick field oxide 11 as shown in FIG. 1A. Thick field oxide 11 reduces the electric field in N-type drain region 13 below gate 12 to reduce the high impact generation rate of carriers. However, thick field oxide 11 causes transistor 10 to have undesirably large device dimensions. Thick field oxide 11 also increases the resistance between the drain-to-source (RDS-ON) which is also undesirable, because field oxide 11 encroaches down into N-type drain region 13. A further disadvantage of transistor 10 is that the N-type doping concentration in N-type drain region 13 is higher near bird""s beak 11A of thick oxide 11 than the N-type doping concentration near the lower boundary 11B of thick oxide 11. This effect causes an increased electric field under the gate which is also undesirable.
Another previously known high voltage MOS transistor 20 is shown in FIG. 1B. Transistor 20 has N-type extension region 22 which is an extension of the drain region of the transistor. N-extension 22 has a lower N-type doping concentration than highly doped N+ drain region 24. N-extension 22 increases the drain-to-body breakdown voltage in transistor 20. However, the peak electric field on the drain side is high at a high drain-to-source voltage. The high electric field in N-extension 22 may cause hot carrier injection in gate oxide 26.
Another previously known high voltage MOS transistor 30 is shown in FIG. 1C. Transistor 30 has gate oxide 36 and gate 32. Gate oxide 36 has a thick portion 36A that extends over N-extension region 22 as shown in FIG. 1C. Gate 32 of transistor 30 has a stepped portion 32A that extends over a portion of thick portion 36A of gate oxide 36. Transistor 30 has a reduced electric field and a reduced impact generation rate of carriers in N-extension 22 at high drain voltages. Transistor 30 requires additional process steps relating to the formation of thick oxide portion 36A that are not typically used in standard CMOS and BiCMOS processes. These additional steps increase the complexity and time associated with the fabrication of MOS transistor 30.
It would, however, be desirable to provide a MOS transistor that can operate at high voltages with a reduced peak electric field in the drain so that the impact generation rate is not high enough to cause breakdown or substantial hot carrier injection. It would further be desirable to provide a high voltage MOS transistor that can be fabricated with process steps that are standard in CMOS and BiCMOS processes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a MOS transistor that can operate at high voltages with a reduced peak electric field in the drain so that the impact generation rate is not high enough to cause breakdown or substantial hot carrier injection.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a high voltage transistor that can be fabricated with process steps that are standard in CMOS and BiCMOS processes.
These and other objects of the present invention are provided by high voltage transistors with a gate extension. The present invention also includes methods for using and making high voltage transistors with a gate extension. The high voltage transistor with gate extension of the present invention includes a first and second gate layers, and a dielectric layer between the gate layers. The first and second gate layers are electrically coupled together by being in direct physical contact with each other or through another electrically conducting layer such as a metal contact. The first and second gate layers form the gate of the transistor. The first and second gate layers may be electrically coupled together over the active area of the device or over the field oxide region.
The first gate layer is disposed on the gate oxide layer. The second gate layer is disposed above at least a portion of the first gate layer. The second gate layer extends over the drain of the transistor above the dielectric and gate oxide layers to form the gate extension. The thickness of the gate extension can be reduced to form a stepped gate extension. The gate extension reduces the peak electric field in the drain near the gate by providing a wide area for the voltage to drop between the drain and the gate of the transistor. The dielectric layer also contributes to reducing the peak electric field in the gate side of the drain by providing insulation between the gate and the drain. The dielectric layer also reduces the parasitic gate-to-drain capacitance.
Many analog CMOS and BiCMOS processes provide dual polysilicon layers and a dielectric layer that can be used to form linear capacitors with low voltage coefficients. The two polysilicon layers and the dielectric layer in these CMOS and BiCMOS processes may be selectively patterned in the manner discussed below (with respect to FIGS. 2A-2G, 3A-3C, 4, and 5) to fabricate high voltage transistors of the present invention. Therefore, high voltage transistors of the present invention may be fabricated without additional processing steps when using analog CMOS and BiCMOS processes that use dual polysilicon layers.

High voltage MOS transistor with gate extension


An LED track light device includes a plurality of LED-units that fit within a track means. At least one LED element(s) is fitted within the LED-unit's geometric construction, and leads of the LED are connected by conductive means, resilient conductive means, contact means, and/or bus means to deliver electric signal from an AC or DC power source, circuit means, switch means, sensor means, timer means, and/or control means to the element(s) to provide a desired area-illumination light function. The LED-units have a geometric construction and space to allow the element(s) to be fixed in position or incorporated with reflector means that may be arranged to rotate, swivel, or tilt. Hanging means or other electric devices also can added to the said LED track light device or the LED-units to add more practical extra functions.

This application has subject matter in common with or related to the subject matter of copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/073,889 (LED Light with Changeable LED Position with Preferable Power Source); 12/007,076 (LED Light Device with Changeable Geometric System); 12/003,809 (LED Light Device with Changeable Features) 12/003,691 (LED Light Device with Changeable Features of Geometric Dimension); 11/806,711; 11/527,631 (LED Night Light with Interchangeable Display Unit); 11/498,881 (Poly Night Light); 11/255,981 (Multiple Light Source Night Light); 11/094,215 (LED Night Light with Liquid Optics Medium); 11/092,741 (Night Light with Fiber Optics); 10/883,747 (Fiber Optic Light Kits for Footwear); 11/498,874 (Area Illumination for LED Night Light); 11/527,629 (Time Piece with LED Night Light); 11/527,628 (Multiple Function Night Light with Air Freshener); 11/806,284 (LED Night Light with More Than One Optics Medium); Ser. No. 11/806,285 (LED Night Light with Multiple Functions); and 11/806,711 (Multiple LEDs Light with Adjustable Angle Function).
The track light device of the current invention includes a plurality of LED-units whose position along a track means can be changed by manually moving the LED-units. The current invention has a simpler construction than the LED units described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/007,076; 12/003,809; 11/806,711; 11/806,285; 11/806,284; 11/527,628; 11/527,629; 11/498,874; 11/527,631; 11/498,881; 11/255,981; 11/184,771; 11/12,063; 11/094,215; 11/092,742; 11/092,741; and in the above listed copending cases.
The track means includes bus-means to deliver electric signals from the power source and change the power source electric signals by circuit means to trigger the LED-unit's LED or LEDs for a desired light performance. Each LED-unit has a desired number of one or more LEDs that fit into the LED-unit with conductive means, resilient conductive means, or contact-means that enable the moveable LED-units to freely move within the track means and always connect the bus-means to deliver electric signals to the LED or LEDs.
The current track light device includes the following features:    1. It is easy to replace the LED-units.    2. A user can add or reduce the LED-units at any time.    3. The user can easily replace batteries when using a DC power source.    4. The user can easily plug the electric plug into a wall outlet adaptor when using an AC power source.    5. The track means have space to arrange the DC or AC power source and its parts in a compartment.    6. The LED-units may optionally incorporate rotating means to make the light beams adjustable 360 degrees (as also disclosed in a co-pending filing)    7. LED-units may optionally incorporate hanging means to more increase practicality and add to the value of the current invention, and the hanging means also be adjustable to different angles for different installations.    8. The circuit means may incorporate an integrated circuit to provide desired light functions, the integrated circuit being selected from a conventional market available type, and/or the circuit means may incorporate sensor means, motion sensor means, photo sensor means, or mechanical or electric switch means to make the LED light device more practical and enable the consumer to have a better life.    9. The track means material may be selected from a bendable, cuttable material so as to allow the consumer to make it shorter to fit into a limited space.    10. All LED-units are arranged in-parallel to facilitate adding or reducing the desired number of LED-units because LED element power consumption is very low so there is no need, unlike, for example a halogen bulb, for each unit to carry its own circuit and transformer, which would be way too risky since a bulb with its own circuit and transformer could fall off and kill the people from a high location. The LED track light can use the bus means with LED trigger current which is safe because of the low current and voltage so no harm can come to people, and thereby permit the LED-units to be arranged in parallel.
All these features can make a big improvement for consumer life and enable the LED track light to become a universal LED light device for people for their house, kitchen, under cabinet, bath room, garage, wash room, closet, stair, front door, garden, swimming pool, spa, patio, public area, stair, van, car, boat, or airplane or anywhere that needs a good light fixture with super low power consumption or green energy light fixtures.
A preferred construction of the current track light device is as follows:
At least LED-unit is arranged within a track means with position and/or location changing features.
The LED-units have a geometric design, shape, and construction to fit within the track means to allow light to be emitted in a desired direction for area illumination.
At least one LED element fits within the LED-unit such that the element's electric leads connect with conductive means, resilient conductive means, contact-means, or bus means to deliver electric signals from a preferred power source and circuit means to the leads.
At least one pair of bus-means are arranged within the track means to deliver electric signals from the power source and circuit means to the element's terminals for illumination under predetermined function, duration, brightness, colors, and performance.
The track means has a geometric shape, design, and dimension which offers space to accommodate the power source, circuit means, bus means, and related parts to supply AC or DC signals to the LED elements of the LED units.
The track light device can be installed on a main object surface by conventional available attachment means.
The LED-units may include optional rotating means to adjust each unit's light beam to a desired direction for area illumination.
The LED-units and track light device may incorporate hanging means to add the other functions.
The principles of the current invention may have wider application to cover different light means, including an incandescent bulb, fluorescent lamp, halogen bulb, electro-luminescent elements, cold cathode tube, and any other conventional light means available from the market place and that have the same function or equivalent functions with the LEDs or LED-unit to offer illumination to all people by endowing the light means with geometric shape, size, and dimension changeable features that enable the orientation, position etc. of the light means to be changed


A circuit for data transfer includes a first buffer operating at a first clock frequency, a plurality of second buffers operating at a second clock frequency, and a selector circuit which receives data at the first clock frequency, and supplies the data to a selected one of the first buffer and the second buffers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data transfer circuits, and particularly relates to a data transfer circuit which transfers data between areas having different clock frequencies.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the operation speed of LSI circuits increases, a gap in operation frequencies is widened between the interior of the LSI circuits and the exterior of the LSI circuits. This leads to a need for an operation sequence circuit that transfers data between areas having different operation frequencies. Also, where complex procedures having been implemented by software are now to be implemented through hardware, a plurality of LSI circuits having, different functions need to be connected together. This also leads to a need for an operation sequence circuit that transfers data between areas of different operation frequencies.
Attention is now directed to data transfer between an area having a faster clock rate and a plurality of areas having a slower clock rate. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are illustrative drawings showing operation sequence circuits that are situated between the area having a faster clock rate and the plurality of areas having a slower clock rate.
When data is transferred from the area of a faster clock rate to the areas of a slower clock rate (FIG. 1), flip-flops operating at the slower clock rate receive data, and, then, the data are transmitted to the areas of the slower clock rate by selecting a destination of transfer by use of a selector. When data is transferred from the areas of the slower clock rate to the area of the faster clock rate (FIG. 2), data sources operating at the slower clock rate are selected by a selector, and flip-flops operating at the faster clock rate receive data, followed by transmitting the data to the area of the faster clock rate.
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing interface signals used by an operation sequence circuit that transfers data between areas of different frequencies. In FIG. 3, data transfer is conducted between an area R1A operating at a clock cycle tCLK1 and two areas R2A and R2B operating at a clock cycle tCLK2. A signal input from the area R1A and a signal output to the area R1A are IN_1A and OUT_1A respectively. A signal input from the area R2A and a signal output to the area R2A are IN_2A and OUT_2A respectively. Further, a signal input from the area R2B and a signal output to the area R2B are IN_2B and OUT_2B, respectively.
tCLK1 is equal to or shorter than tCLK2. In the following, tCLK1:tCLK2 is assumed to be 1:2, for the sake of explanation.
FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing data transfer timings in the case of FIG. 1. This relates to a case in which data is transferred from an area of a faster clock area to an area of a slower clock area.
When data is transferred one by one from the area R1A operating at the clock cycle tCLK1 to the areas R2A and R2B operating at the clock cycle tCLK2, the area R1A supplies data1 at t1 and data2 at t3. The area R2A receives data1 at t4, and the area R2B receives data2 at t6. Since the data needs to be supplied at the rate corresponding to the slower frequency, data1 and data2 of IN_1A need to be spaced apart by one clock cycle.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing data transfer timings in the case of FIG. 2. This relates to a case in which data is transferred from an area of a slower clock area to an area of a faster clock area.
When data is transferred one by one from the areas R2A and R2B operating at the clock cycle tCLK2 to the area R1A operating at the clock cycle tCLK1, the area R2A supplies data1 at t1, and the area R2 B supplies data2 at t3. The area R1A receives data1 at t4, and receives data2 at t6. Since the data are received at the rate corresponding to the slower frequency, data1 and data2 of OUT_1A need to be spaced apart by one clock cycle.
Accordingly, there is a need for a scheme in which delays in data transfer is reduced when transferring data between areas of different operation frequencies.

Data transfer circuit between different clock regions