A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘Lazamored’, characterized by its medium red-orange colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit and strong multi-seasonal reblooming, is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant botanically known as Rhododendron hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Lazamored'.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Independence, La. during the spring of 2006. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Azalea cultivars with attractive flower color with multi-seasonal blooming and that perform well in the garden.
The new Azalea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is 'Red Slippers', not patented, characterized by its medium red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is 'Arabesk', not patented, characterized by its dark red-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and compact growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during September 2007 in a controlled environment in Independence, La.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2007 in Independence, La. and later in Loxley, Ala. and Irvington, Ala. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.
The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish 'Lazamored' as a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant:                1. Medium red-orange colored flowers;        2. Dark green-colored foliage;        3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit; and        4. Strong multi-seasonal reblooming.
Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in having strong repeat blooming. In addition, plants of the new cultivar differ from the female parent in having reduced growth vigor and a different growth habit and from the male parent in having a different shade of red flower color.
Of the many commercially available Azalea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Autumn Cheer 'Conlef', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,579. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of 'Conlef' in at least the following characteristics:                1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from plants of 'Conlef';        2. Plants of the new cultivar have a larger corolla diameter than plants of 'Conlef'; and        3. Plants of the new cultivar have a leaf color different from plants of 'Conlef'.


A client is authenticated to a network resource wherein the client is coupled to a biometric sensor. The client signals a request to the network resource (e.g., by connecting to an access point). The network resource initiates a point-to-point LAN authentication protocol between the network resource and the client. The network resource requests biometric data from the client via the LAN authentication protocol (optionally either before or after authenticating with other credentials). The client captures biometric data of an attendant user of the client. The client transmits the captured biometric data to the network resource via the LAN authentication protocol. The network resource encapsulates the biometric data in the LAN authentication protocol into an authentication server protocol and forwards the encapsulated biometric data to an authentication server. The authentication server compares the biometric data to a biometric template stored in conjunction with the authentication server for making a determination whether the attendant user should be granted access to the network resource. The authentication server sends either an access-accept message or an access-deny message in the authentication server protocol to the network resource in response to the determination. The network resource grants access to the client only after receiving an access-accept message.

The present invention relates in general to security of a computer network, and, more specifically, to a computer network security system for preventing unauthorized access to network resources using biometrics.
Biometric authentication involves the use of physical and/or behavioral characteristics of individuals to identify them and to control access to places or things, such as ATM's or other computerized equipment, or more specifically, applications running on that equipment. Biometrics has certain advantages over conventional authentication techniques (e.g., user IDs and passwords, PIN codes, and encoded identification cards) since there is nothing to remember or to carry which might be stolen. Among the many biometric technologies in use are fingerprint analysis, hand geometry analysis, retina scanning, iris scanning, signature analysis, facial recognition, keystroke analysis, and voice analysis.
Based on an original measurement of a biometric characteristic (i.e., enrollment), a person's identity can thereafter be verified automatically when requesting access to a computer application or other resource by re-sampling the characteristic and comparing the biometric data with the enrollment data. If a sufficiently close match is found, then the identity is verified. In addition to verification of an identity, biometric systems can also be employed to compare biometric data from an unidentified person with a database of biometric samples of a group of individuals in order to potentially identify that person from the group.
After a biometric sensor acquires raw data of a desired characteristic, the data is typically processed mathematically in order to extract and format the meaningful features and to compress the data. Comparison of the processed verification or identification data with previously processed and stored enrollment data typically involves a mathematical analysis to quantify the "closeness" of the two data samples. A sensitivity threshold is chosen to delineate how close the samples must be in order to call them a match.
Biometric authentication systems have been specifically adapted to provide a secure interface to computer software applications and their data. The biometric security packages have concentrated on controlling access to the software applications because the protection of applications and their data is a primary focus for owners of sensitive information. In the computing environments of most business environments (and increasingly in residential situations), computing resources are connected within networks, such as local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). Existing biometric security packages can be used in a network environment for controlling access to the protected software applications from other points in the network.
With the advancement of computer networking hardware and operating system support for networking, it has become easy to connect a computer to a network and configure it for use within the network. In particular, the use of wireless access points in a network provide opportunities for unauthorized access into a network (e.g., a LAN) when the coverage area of the wireless access point includes public areas. In addition, hardwired LAN connections in corporate Intranets are sometimes available in loosely controlled areas of company facilities such as conference rooms, visitors offices, and vacant offices. Although applications residing on the network may be protected by various security measures (including biometrics), it is difficult to ensure that there are no unprotected areas within a particular network that could be exploited by an unauthorized user.

Biometric authentication of a client network connection


Tanks, such as air tanks and other compressed gas tanks as well as fuel tanks, have bushings formed by flowdrilling holes in the tanks after the tanks have been configured in substantially their final shape. The bushings are of the same material and unitary with the tank walls and have smooth bores which receive push-to-connect couplings. The push-to-connect couplings have at least two annular barbs which engage the walls of the bushings with an interference fit so as to prevent withdrawal of the push-to-connect couplings. The push-to-connect couplings are sealed with O-rings disposed between the barbs. The depth of insertion is determined by an annular flange on an outer collar of the push-to-connect coupling which engages the outside surface of an outer rim of the bushing.

In manufacturing tanks such as air tanks, other compressed gas tanks and fuel tanks, it is necessary to provide fluid couplings for dispensing the contents of the tanks for various uses such as operating air brakes or pneumatic tools, or for powering internal combustion engines used in vehicles, or for other purposes. In addition, it may be necessary to attach instruments such as pressure and temperature indicators to these tanks. Typically, a tank may have one or more sites at which a fluid coupling is attached. These sites may vary according to a customer's order or according to the purpose for which the tank is used.
It is current practice to punch holes through the sheet metal used for forming tank walls before the tank walls are fabricated into completely enclosed tanks. From a practical standpoint, it is impossible to effectively punch holes in a closed tank because there is no access to the interior of the tank for inserting a die against which the punch acts when making the holes.
It is not unusual for customers to relocate holes for fittings in order to make the tanks more compatible with altered design criteria. This requires the fabricator of the tank to relocate holes for fittings on a flat blank before the tank is shaped. After the tank has been shaped, the hole may not occur in the finally formed tank where it was supposed to occur or the customer may change his or her mind as to the desired location. Normally, it is not just one tank, but many tanks which end up with holes not located where the customer has either specified or would later prefer. Accordingly, it is frequently desirable to have a completed tank for the customer to inspect prior to making holes for fittings. Heretofore, this has not necessarily been practical because holes would have had to be drilled after tanks were enclosed which would result in debris accumulating in the tanks. Debris in a tank can damage equipment being operated or powered by the fluid dispensed from the tank.
Another problem has arisen with the advent of "quick-connect" couplings in which, instead of threading a coupling to a tank, couplings are simply pushed home to seat within a bushing installed on the tank. A prior art method of installing a bushing on a tank is to weld the bushing to the exterior of the tank in order to provide a smooth bore into which the quick-connect coupling is inserted. It is very important to inspect the weld to make sure that the weld is fluid-tight and that the weld is sound, otherwise, there is a possibility of fluid leaking or, in the case of tanks containing compressed gas, the possibility of the weld blowing out. Inspecting welds for integrity is not an inexpensive, risk-free task.
In view of the aforementioned considerations, there is a need for improvement in techniques for providing tanks with holes for fittings.

Tanks with flow drill bushings for receiving couplings


A contact material composition containing an intimately mixed, mixed oxide of at least one cationic species of a naturally occurring Group IIIB element, at least one cationic species of a Group IIA metal of magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium and a cationic species of aluminum, as well as methods for hydrocarbon conversion using such contact material compositions are provided.

This invention relates generally to conversion of hydrocarbons and, more specifically, to contact material compositions and oxidative conversion processes using such compositions.
As the uncertain nature of the limited supplies of and access to crude oil has become increasingly apparent, alternative sources of hydrocarbons and fuels have been sought out and explored. The conversion of low molecular weight alkanes (lower alkanes) to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons has received increasing consideration as such low molecular weight alkanes may be generally available from more readily secured and reliable sources. Natural gas, partially as a result of its comparative abundance, has received a large measure of the attention that has focused on sources of low molecular weight alkanes. Large deposits of natural gas, mainly composed of methane, are found in many locations throughout the world. In addition, low molecular weight alkanes are generally present in coal deposits and may be formed during numerous mining operations, in various petroleum processes, and in the above- or below-ground gasification or liquefaction of coal, tar sands, oil shale and biomass, for example.
Today, much of the readily accessible natural gas generally has a high valued use as a fuel whether in residential, commercial or in industrial applications. Additional natural gas resources, however, are prevalent in many remote regions of the world, such as remote areas of Western Canada, Africa, Australia, U.S.S.R. and Asia. Commonly, natural gas from these remote resources is referred to as "remote natural gas" or, more briefly, "remote gas."
In many such remote regions, the widespread, direct use of the natural gas as a fuel is generally not currently profitable. Further, the relative inaccessibility of gas from such resources is a major obstacle to the more effective and extensive use of remote gas as the transportation of the gas to distant markets wherein the natural gas could find direct use as a fuel is typically economically unattractive.
Of course, while the primary current use of natural gas is as a fuel, natural gas may alternatively be used as a feedstock for chemical manufacture. In fact, natural gas is a primary chemical feedstock for the manufacture of numerous chemicals, such as methanol, ammonia, acetic acid, acetic anhydride, formic acid, and formaldehyde, for example. However, the markets for such chemicals are fairly limited in size. Consequently, methods for converting low molecular weight alkanes, such as those present in remote natural gas, to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, preferably, to more easily transportable liquid fuels for which the world market is relatively large and/or elastic, are desired and a number of such methods have been proposed or reported.
Conversion of natural gas to liquid products is a promising solution to the problem of more effectively and efficiently utilizing low molecular weight hydrocarbons from remote areas and constitutes a special challenge to the petrochemical and energy industries. The dominant technology currently employed for the utilization of remote natural gas involves conversion of the natural gas to a liquid form via the formation of synthesis gas, i.e., a process intermediary composed of a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide also commonly referred to as "syngas." In syngas processing, methane, the predominant component of natural gas, although typically difficult to activate, is reacted with oxygen or oxygen-containing compounds such as water or carbon dioxide to produce syngas which in turn is then converted to desired products.
Syngas processing, however, is relatively costly as the production of syngas and the subsequent conversion of the syngas are typically very capital intensive processing schemes. Further, while some of the products to which syngas can be converted, such as methanol, mixed alcohols, acetic acid, etc., contain oxygen and are thus logical products for production via syngas processing, hydrocarbon products such as gasoline and diesel fuel typically do not contain oxygen and consequently the production of such materials via syngas processing requires the additional processing step of oxygen removal. Consequently, when such products are produced via syngas processing, the addition and later removal of oxygen ultimately increases the cost of production.
When hydrocarbon products such as gasoline and diesel fuel are sought, the syngas mixture can be converted to syncrude, such as with Fischer-Tropsch technology, and then upgraded to the desired transportation fuels using typical refining methods. Alternatively, syngas can be converted to liquid oxygenates which can be blended with conventional transportation fuels to form materials such as gasohol, used as an alternative fuel or converted to conventional transportation fuels by catalysts such as certain zeolites.
Because syngas processing typically requires high capital investment, with syngas typically being produced in energy intensive ways such as by steam reforming where fuel is burned to supply the heat of reforming, and represents an indirect means of higher hydrocarbon production (i.e., such processing involves the formation and subsequent reaction of the syngas intermediaries), other means for converting lower alkanes directly to higher hydrocarbons have been sought.
Oxidative coupling has been recognized as a promising approach to the problem of conversion of lower alkanes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The mechanism of action of oxidative coupling processing, however, has not been clearly identified or defined and is not clearly understood. In such oxidative coupling processing, a low molecular weight alkane or a mixture containing low molecular weight alkanes, such as methane, is contacted with a solid material referred to by various terms including catalyst, promoter, oxidative synthesizing agent, activator or contact material. In such processing, the methane is contacted with such a "contact material" and, depending on the composition of the contact material, in the presence or absence of free oxygen gas, is directly converted to ethane, ethylene, higher hydrocarbons and water. Carbon dioxide, the formation of which is highly favored thermodynamically, is an undesired product, however, as the formation of carbon dioxide results in both oxygen and carbon being consumed without production of the desired higher value C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons.
Catalytic mixtures containing reducible metal oxides are highly active and many are 100% selective for producing CO.sub.2, that is, they are combustion catalysts. In order to obtain desired selectivity for hydrocarbon formation, Group IA metals, particularly lithium and sodium, have been used in such catalytic mixtures. Under the conditions used for oxidative coupling, however, migration and loss of the alkali metal normally occurs. In order to avoid complete combustion, most methods for oxidative conversion have been carried out in the absence of an oxygen-containing gas, relying on the oxygen theoretically being supplied by the catalyst.
Nevertheless, in most cases involving oxidative coupling processing of methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen are coproduced in addition to desired C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons. If desired, such coproduced hydrogen can be used alone, in part or in its entirety, or supplemented with hydrogen from another source to effect conversion of carbon oxides to produce methane. Such produced methane can, in turn, be recycled for desired oxidative coupling processing. Alternatively, the hydrogen can be used to effect conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon-containing oxygenates such as methanol or mixed alcohols (e.g., a mixture of one or more alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanols and butanols) or higher hydrocarbons such as a mixture of paraffins and olefins typically produced in the process commonly known as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Alternatively or in addition, such coproduced carbon monoxide and hydrogen can, if desired, be combined with olefins, such as those produced during the oxidative coupling processing, to produce various oxygenates, such as propanol, for example. As described above, however, the production of materials such as oxygenates from carbon monoxide and hydrogen (i.e., synthesis gas) is not a direct approach for the utilization of natural gas, as such processing still involves the use of the syngas intermediaries.
Furthermore, the processing of coproduced hydrogen and carbon monoxide typically increases the cost of any such processing scheme. Thus, the need for active oxidative coupling contact materials which have relatively high selectivities for desired higher hydrocarbons and which contact materials are stable and have long life (i.e., maintain relatively high levels of activity and selectivity to higher hydrocarbons over extended periods of use without the need for regeneration or replacement).
Many patents describe processes for converting methane to heavier hydrocarbons in the presence of reducible metal oxide catalysts. During such processing, the reducible metal oxide "catalyst" typically is reduced and thus most of these patents require or imply the need for a separate stage to reoxidize the catalyst.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,984 discloses a method for synthesizing hydrocarbons wherein methane is contacted with a reducible oxide of tin at an elevated temperature. Such contact results in the tin oxide being reduced. The reduced composition is then oxidized with molecular oxygen to regenerate a reducible oxide of tin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,374 discloses the use of a reducible metal oxide promoted by an alkaline earth metal in such a method of methane conversion. During such processing, the reducible metal oxide of the promoted oxidative synthesizing agent is reduced. The reduced synthesizing agent can then be removed to a separate zone wherein it is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas to regenerate the promoted oxidative synthesizing agent.
Examples of other such patents include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,049, which shows a reducible metal oxide catalyst promoted by an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and requires the presence of oxygen during the oxidative coupling reaction; U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,155, which specifies a reducible metal oxide in combination with an oxide of zirconium, an oxide of yttrium and, optionally, an alkali metal; U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,310, which is directed to coupling promoted by alkaline earth metal oxides in the total absence of molecular oxygen; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,644, which teaches a barium-containing oxygen-deficient catalyst with a perovskite structure.
Several patents describe catalysts for higher hydrocarbon synthesis which can include a Group IIA; a metal of scandium, yttrium or lanthanum; and/or other metal oxides.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,311 discloses a catalyst composition comprising a mixed oxide of:
a) a Group IIIB metal selected from the group consisting of yttrium, scandium and lanthanum; PA1 b) a Group IIA metal selected from the group consisting of barium, calcium and strontium; and PA1 c) a Group IVA metal selected from the group consisting of tin, lead and germanium, with the Group IIIB, Group IIA and Group IVA metals in an approximate mole ratio of 1:0.5-3:2-4, respectively. PA1 a) at least one cationic species of a naturally occurring Group IIIB element; PA1 b) at least one cationic species of a Group IIA metal of magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium; and PA1 c) a cationic species of aluminum. PA1 a) at least one cationic species of a Group IIIB element selected from the group consisting of yttrium, lanthanum, neodymium, samarium and ytterbium; PA1 b) at least one cationic species of a Group IIA metal of strontium and barium; and PA1 c) a cationic species of aluminum. PA1 a) a cationic species of yttrium; PA1 b) at least one cationic species of a Group IIA metal of strontium and barium; and PA1 c) a cationic species of aluminum. PA1 (a) when contacted with a lower alkane and oxygen at oxidative coupling reaction conditions results in the formation of hydrocarbons having a higher molecular weight than the original feed alkane, or PA1 (b) when contacted with a higher hydrocarbon (e.g., butanes, pentanes, hexanes and mixtures thereof) at oxidative dehydrogenation or oxidative cracking reaction conditions leads to a dehydrogenation and/or molecular weight reduction, respectively, of the higher hydrocarbon, generally with the formation of dehydrogenated lower molecular weight hydrocarbons.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,449 discloses a catalyst including metal oxides of a Group IIA metal, a Group IIIA metal, a lanthanide series metal excluding Ce, or mixtures thereof. The patent lists as optional promoter materials metal oxides of a metal of Groups IA, IIA, IIIA, IVB, VB, IB, the lanthanide series, or mixtures thereof.
Catalysts which contain metal oxides which are reduced under the reaction conditions of use are typically physically and/or chemically relatively unstable under the reaction conditions of use. That is, such catalysts generally do not maintain needed or desired physical and/or chemical characteristics for extended periods of time (e.g., such characteristics as reactivity and physical form are typically not maintained for more than a few minutes) without regeneration, reformation or other remedial procedures.
Also, as the reducible metal oxides of such materials typically undergo chemical reduction with use, the activity of the materials for producing desired products, such as C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons in the oxidative coupling processing of methane, for example, worsen.
For example, with contact materials containing reducible metal oxides, the problem of over-reduction is typically associated with the reduction of the metal oxide to the metal. Often, the selectivity of the contact material changes dramatically when the material has been over-reduced, leading to a material which results in combustion reactions or which results in the formation of mixtures of carbon oxides with water and hydrogen when the material is used in the oxidative coupling of lower alkane such as methane, for example. Some reducible metal oxide-containing contact materials (e.g., manganese oxide) at temperatures in the range of about 800.degree. to about 1,000.degree. C. and in the absence of oxygen, once over-reduced are very difficult to reoxidize and a permanent or near permanent alteration in the characteristics of the material occurs. In some cases, the reduced metal can react with other materials in the composition to form a new phase which is difficult to reoxidize and the contact material is permanently damaged by over-reduction. Such alterations can, for example, result in a loss in selectivity to C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons when the material is used in the oxidative coupling of methane.
Furthermore, contact materials containing metal oxides which are reducible under the reaction conditions of use can, in use, experience physical deterioration, e.g., breaking apart. Such physical deterioration results, at least in part, from changes in the material during oxidation and reduction. Frequently, the material in its various oxidation states has very different densities, e.g., the material contracts and swells as it is reduced and oxidized. The smaller particles or powders, frequently referred to as "fines," resulting when the material undergoes physical degradation results in pressure drop buildups (in fixed bed operation) and leads to loss of contact material (in fluid bed operation).
In fluid bed operation, fines are frequently carried out with the vapors from the reactor. Additionally, the fines are generally not easily separated from the product gases in common separating devices such as cyclones. Thus, costly separation techniques are required to effect separation of the fines from the product gases. The loss of contact material in the form of fines also necessitates the addition of more contact material to the process to replace that which has been lost and thereby increases the cost of such processing.
The search for a stable, long-lived contact material having high activity and selectivity in the oxidative conversion processing of hydrocarbons has continued.


A delineator mounting system has a coupler for mating a delineator having a cylindrical tubular lower end in a mount having square cross-sections.

A traffic delineator is a conventional device used upon many highways to indicate to the driver the edge of the road or, in the alternative, an upcoming division or revision in traffic lanes. In a design of such marking posts or traffic delineators it is desirable for the post to be constructed in a manner which is inexpensive and provides for a quick and simple installation. The post should also be able to withstand many impacts from the bumpers of high speed vehicles without sustaining damage or destroying the post and without pulling the post out of or from connection with the ground/pavement.
The ease and speed of installation is particularly important in view of the large number of parking posts or traffic delineators which are used along the highways and expressways and, in fact, frequently the installation of the posts is performed when the installer is exposed to motor vehicle traffic. For these reasons, it is also desirable for the post to be designed for quick and conventional replacement in the event it is destroyed or no longer usable. Further, the post must be installed in a manner by which the post may not be easily damaged or removed by persons walking along the roadway and/or during the installation process.
Modern traffic delineators are cylindrical in cross-section for ease of manufacture, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,179,016. While advanced delineator mounting systems for cylindrical delineators are now available, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,003,919, in many localities a relatively primitive, older form of sub-surface mount is required that includes perforated square tubing that is driven into the ground. In such cases it has heretofore not been possible to use cylindrical delineators with driven square tubing mounts due the mismatch in geometry.


A semiconductor device includes a latency setting circuit setting the latency, an input command circuit outputting a normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal obtained by capturing an input command signal using a normal-phase (reverse-phase) clock, first and second counter circuits each including latch circuits for sequentially shifting the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal based on the normal-phase (reverse-phase) clock, a selector circuit controlling a signal path so that the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal is transmitted through the first (second) counter circuit when an even latency is set and the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal is transmitted so as to be shifted from the first (second) counter circuit to the second (first) counter circuit when an odd latency is set, and a control circuit controlling so that the latch circuits of the first (second) counter circuit are activated in response to the input command signal and stopped after an operation period is elapsed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device which operates in synchronization with a clock, and particularly relates to a synchronous semiconductor device having a configuration for controlling operation timings after issuing various commands in response to latencies.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) of DDR (Double Data Rate) type has been a mainstream as a synchronous semiconductor memory device to allow high speed operation. Since this DDR-SDRAM (referred to as DDR-SDRAM hereinafter) is provided with a latency counter in which the number of clock cycles required between issuing a command and completing data transmission in read/write operation is set as a latency and the set latency is counted based on an internal clock. In the DDR-SDRAM, different latencies are defined for various types of operations and a user can preset a desired latency in a mode register.
Meanwhile, as the speed of an external clock of the DDR-SDRAM increases, a multistage latency counter capable of corresponding to latencies covering a wide range is required. Therefore, an increase in consumption current becomes a problem. A configuration is proposed in Patent Reference 1 given below as a latency counter capable of suppressing an increase in consumption current. The patent reference 1 disclose the latency counter of a dual-phase configuration including dual counter circuits in each of which the external clock is frequency-divided by two to generate internal clocks having phases different by 180 degrees from each other, and the counter circuits are synchronized with the internal clocks respectively. As shown in FIG. 2 of the patent reference 1, the operation of selectors is controlled in response to a set latency, and a signal path through either or both of the dual counter circuits is formed for an input command signal, thereby selectively counting even latencies and odd latencies. By this configuration, the internal clocks whose frequency is half that of the external clock can be used, and thus, it is effective for reducing the consumption current.
Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-115351
However, as the speed of the external clock of the DDR-SDRAM further increases, the consumption current in the conventional latency counter is required to be further reduced. Particularly, internal clocks obtained by frequency-dividing the external clock by two are respectively applied to a large number of D flip flops forming the dual counter circuits, the magnitude of the overall consumption current becomes negligible. Although the input command signal is activated within a limited period in the latency counter disclosed in the Patent Reference 1, it is in a state where the current always keeps flowing because the internal clocks are constantly operating. In this manner, when using a faster external clock in the conventional latency counter, a problem arises that there is a limit to suppress the consumption current.

Semiconductor device having latency counter


Disclosed are a low-temperature sinterable ceramic composition comprising 100 parts by weight of an essential component composed of from about 60 to 85% by weight of cordierite and from about 15 to 40% by weight of glass, and not larger than about 25 parts by weight of TiO.sub.2, and a monolithic ceramic substrate comprising the composition. The composition can be sintered at relatively low temperatures, and the sintered substrate has a small thermal expansion coefficient and a small dielectric constant. The temperature-dependent variation in the electrostatic capacity of the substrate is small. Preferably, the glass component in the composition is composed of about 20 to 60% by weight of SiO.sub.2, about 30 to 50% by weight of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, about 5 to 30% by weight of MgO, 0 to about 15% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and about 1 to 5% by weight of R.sub.2 O in which R is an alkali metal.

With the popularization of small-sized electronic appliances, ceramic substrates have extensively been used for mounting various electronic parts thereon to construct such electronic appliances. Recently, monolithic ceramic substrates have been developed in order to further increase the packaging density of electronic parts mounted thereon. Monolithic ceramic substrates are generally prepared by laminating a plurality of ceramic green sheets each having on its surface a circuit pattern made from an electroconductive paste, followed by baking. Alumina has heretofore usually been used as the ceramic material for those monolithic ceramic substrates.
However, monolithic ceramic substrates of alumina are problematic in the following points.
1. Since alumina has a high sintering temperature falling between 1500 and 1600.degree. C., laminated alumina green sheets require substantial energy for baking, resulting in an increase in the production costs of the monolithic ceramic substrate.
2. The electroconductive material for inner circuits to be formed inside the monolithic ceramic substrates of alumina is limited to a high-melting-point metal that is resistant to high-temperature baking, such as W or Mo. However, since these metals have a high specific resistivity, the circuit pattern made of the metal has a high resistance value.
3. Since the thermal expansion coefficient of alumina is larger than that of silicon chips constituting semiconductor parts to be mounted on the alumina substrates, thermal stress is imparted to the silicon chips and may cause them to crack.
4. Since alumina has a high dielectric constant of about 10, the time delay for the signal transmission through circuits inside the monolithic alumina substrates is large.
Recently, there is an increasing demand for monolithic substrates for LCR-integrated LSI capable of being driven at a high frequency of over 10 MHz. Those monolithic substrates require not only the solution of the problems noted above but also to have a small temperature-dependent variation in the dielectric capacity of the substrate material of, for example, not higher than .+-.30 ppm/.degree. C.

Low-temperature sinterable ceramic composition, and monolithic ceramic substrate using the same


Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to determine and apply polarity-based error correction code are disclosed. In some examples, the methods and apparatus create an array by setting a first set of bit locations of a code word to have a first value and setting a second set of bit locations of the code word to have a second value different from the first value. In some examples, when the array satisfies a parity check, the methods and apparatus determine that bit locations having the first value from the array form a polarity-based error correction code.

In recent years, error correction coding has been applied to non-volatile memory. Some types of non-volatile memory have destructive read operations, which require a value that is read to be written back into memory. Error correction coding allows for the correction of errors in such non-volatile memory when data destructed by a read is not correctly written back into memory. A error correction code word is effectively recreated when errors occur during reading and/or writing and the recreated code word is written back into memory. However, continuous write backs of a same value (e.g., an error correction code word) often cause an imprint effect. Additionally, error correction coding has been applied to communications via a network or bus to recreate transmissions with communication errors. Bus power can be reduced, in some examples, when the next message to be sent across the bus only slightly differs from the previously sent message.

Methods and apparatus to determine and apply polarity-based error correction code


A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a reproducing member for reproducing number-of-times-of-copy information and possible-number-of-times-of-copy information recorded on a recording medium, a renewing circuit for renewing the number-of-times-of-copy information reproduced by the reproducing member, a determining circuit for determining whether or not it is possible to perform copying by comparing the possible-number-of-times-of-copy information with the number-of-times-of-copy information, and a recording member for recording the number-of-times-of-copy information renewed by the renewing circuit on the recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to recording and reproducing apparatuses and, more particularly, to a recording and reproducing apparatus capable of limiting copying of digital signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, in the recording and reproducing apparatus, for example, VTRs, no copying limitation was positively made. To take copies was, therefore, free and, from the point of view of copyright protection, gave rise to a problem. In the case of the analog signal recording type VTR, because the image quality in S/N, resolution, etc., deteriorates with the increase of the number of times the copying has been recycled, the freedom of copying was limited to some extent. In the case of the digital signal recording type VTR, no deterioration of the image quality takes place by copying (dubbing). Hence, the number of copyright issues is increasing. Yet, any effective method for copy limitation has so far not been disclosed.
In the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus, it is conceivable in the case of, for example, the digital signal recording type VTR that the problem of copyright is averted by performing all connection between the instruments for use in copying through an input/output system for analog signals. If so, the advantage of having influence of dubbing in the digital signal recording is lost.
Also, it is primarily desirable that as far as what the user has created by himself is concerned, the right of deciding whether or not it is possible to copy the source tape (original tape) is given to the user himself.

Recording and reproducing apparatus adapted to selectively control the number of copies made


An fastener driving apparatus has an actuator linked to a work contact element so as to move a trigger plate when the work contact element retracts. A button is movable back and forth along a transverse axis when depressed from its opposite ends. The actuator has a bump mode surface and a sequential mode surface at different locations along the axis, and is moveable transversely back and forth between a bump mode arrangement in which the bump mode surface can move the trigger plate and a sequential mode arrangement in which the sequential mode surface can move the trigger plate. The button is linked to the actuator so as to move the actuator to the bump mode arrangement when depressed from one end, and to move the actuator to the sequential mode arrangement when depressed from the opposite end.

A fastener driving tool may be capable of switching back and forth between a bump mode of operation and a sequential mode of operation. In the sequential mode, the tool will not drive a fastener unless the user first presses the tool against a workpiece and then pulls the trigger while holding the tool in place.
The bump mode allows the user to pull the trigger either before or after pressing the tool against the workpiece. Therefore, if the user first presses and holds the tool against the workpiece in the bump mode, the tool will eject a fastener when the user next pulls the trigger. On the other hand, if the user first pulls the trigger in the bump mode, the tool will drive a fastener when the user next presses the tool against the workpiece while holding the trigger back. As long as the user holds the trigger back in the bump mode, the tool will again drive a fastener each time the user presses or "bumps" the tool against the workpiece.


In an LED array comprising a plurality of radiation-emitting semiconductor chips each of which has a radiation outcoupling surface, the radiation emitted by the semiconductor chips being outcoupled substantially through said radiation outcoupling surface, and a cover body that is transparent to the emitted radiation, the transparent cover body comprises, on a surface facing toward the radiation outcoupling surfaces of the semiconductor chips, one or more conductive traces made of a conductive material that is transparent to the emitted radiation, and the semiconductor chips each comprise, on the radiation outcoupling surface, at least one electrical contact that is connected to the conductive trace or to at least one of the plurality of conductive traces. At least one luminescence conversion material is contained in the transparent cover body and/or applied in a layer to the cover body and/or the semiconductor chips.

LED arrays are distinguished by high efficiency, long life, fast response times and relatively low sensitivity to impacts and vibrations. For this reason, LED arrays are being used with increasing frequency in lighting devices where incandescent lamps have often been used heretofore, particularly in motor vehicle headlights, reading lamps or flashlights. Because of their high luminosity, LED arrays have also now proven suitable for use in traffic signal systems or projected light sources.
In LED arrays that are used for such lighting purposes, the LED chips are usually driven at high operating currents to obtain the highest possible luminance. For example, operating currents of 1 A or more may occur. So that the electrical contacting of the semiconductor chip is able to withstand such high currents over the long term, bonding wires 30 μm or more in diameter are typically used to contact semiconductor chips in high-power LED modules. However, the use of these relatively thick bonding wires causes some of the radiation emitted by the LEDs to be blocked by the bonding wires. In addition, the bonding wires make it difficult to mount optical elements close above the surface of the semiconductor chip, since the radius of curvature of the wires, and thus the amount of space they occupy above the chip surface, cannot be reduced arbitrarily.
In applications of LED arrays, particularly in projected light sources, it is necessary for light to be emitted within the tightest possible range of solid angles. Since LEDs, however, usually have a relatively broad range of emission angles, optical elements are necessary for this purpose. It is desirable in this case to get the optical elements as close as possible to the semiconductor chips, in order to achieve compact construction and to be able to make use of the largest possible fraction of the radiation emitted by the semiconductor chip. This is hampered, however, by the use of bonding wires for contacting.
From the document WO 98/12757, it is known to embed an optoelectronic semiconductor chip, contacted with a bonding wire in a conventional manner, in a potting compound containing luminescence conversion materials, in order to convert at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the semiconductor chip to higher wavelengths. In this way, a semiconductor chip that emits blue or ultraviolet light, for example, can be used to generate mixed-color or white light. However, embedding the semiconductor chip in a potting compound raises problems in the case of LED arrays, which are operated at relatively high currents, since the potting compound impedes heat dissipation from the semiconductor chip.
The document WO 97/50132 also describes applying a luminescence conversion layer to a cover plate of an LED housing, an LED chip contacted with a bonding wire in a conventional manner being positioned in the housing.
Described in the document DE 19603444 is an LED device in which the LEDs are contacted by means of metallic conductive traces that are applied to a transparent plate. In this type of contacting, a portion of the radiation emitted by the LEDs is absorbed in the metallic conductive traces.


A method for providing a private conversation channel in a videoconference session between at least three participants includes the steps of providing an ability to receive a private acceptance in response to the private invitation and providing an ability to exclude non-parties to the private conversation from receiving private messages corresponding to the private conversation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to videoconferencing and, more particularly, to a method and system for providing a private conversation channel in a videoconference system.
2. Background of the Invention
In a multi-user (e.g., more than two users) conventional videoconference system, the audio and video streams from one participant node are transmitted to all the other participants involved in a conference call. The audio streams from all the participant nodes can be superimposed within the system and sent to all the participants, or the combining can be done at each receiver. Video streams, on the other hand, are delivered on separate transport channels to all the participants. A participant is able to choose the video streams to decode for viewing. In such a case, a participant should hear the conversation of all the participants, including him or herself.
Very often, however, a small number of participants prefer a private conversation among themselves. Those participants join the videoconferencing from different locations. Therefore, they are not able to use the audio/voice channel of the videoconference for their private conversation due to the audibility of everyone's voice carried over the regular voice channel.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and highly advantageous to have a private voice channel for selective participants of a videoconference call.

Method and system for providing a private conversation channel in a video conference system


An electronic article surveillance tag is claimed wherein the tag features a spindle assembly which anchors and retains a set of ball bearings which are used to clutch and retain the shaft of a tack. The spindle features an operational tab which may be contacted by the appropriate probe to turn the spindle about a central axis. The spindle is seated in a retaining means with a graduated lip around the perimeter. The turning of the spindle serves to raise a portion of the spindle from the retaining means, loosening the ball bearing grip on the shaft of the tack. The electronic article surveillance tag may be used with either a smoothed or grooved tack shaft and may be operated by either mechanical probe actuation or by the use of a magnetic detachment means applied to the spindle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) Tag for use in shoplifting deterrence and inventory control in a retail establishment.
2. Description of the Related Art
EAS tags have been used for many years as a means of deterring retail shoplifting in clothing stores, electronic stores, and a myriad of other retail establishments. Generally speaking, an EAS system will consist of a durable and reliable, yet small, sensor tag which is affixed to the article to be detected in such a way that it cannot be easily removed by a customer in the store. Usually, the system depends on the feature that the attachment mechanism is constructed such that it can only be removed by the use of a specialized tool which is only in possession of the store personnel at the checkout register or exit port for the establishment. In the event that an EAS tag is not removed from a protected article prior to exiting the store, an alarm or other signal is activated.
In order for an EAS system to be reliable, the tag must be effective in that a shoplifter will be unable to remove it within the store. In some systems, the tag is encapsulated with an ink cartridge which will open and permanently destroy the protected item and make a considerable mess in the process. In other systems, the tag is anchored with an attachment mechanism that will cause destruction of the article if it is pulled or ripped from the article. In addition, the tag anchoring mechanism must be rigid enough to withstand efforts to crack it open within the store. In short, the EAS tag must be called upon to perform reliably amid challenges by the most clever and aggressive of shoplifters.
Although an assortment of attachment mechanisms are available in the prior art, one of the more common and more successful attachment mechanisms consists of a tack which is used to physically pin the protected article to the EAS tag base. The tag base is usually constructed of a hard and durable plastic and is generally in the neighborhood of three inches long. The tag serves as a housing for an electronic signal generation means secured within the housing, and which is designed to be immune to tampering. The security system is further characterized by one or more system receiver/transmitters which generates an interrogation zone in the general vicinity of the exit door to the retail establishment. The interrogation zone is usually defined by the installation of one or more transmitters adjacent to the exit doorway. When an EAS tag is moved into or through the surveillance zone, the electronic transmitter within the EAS tag will cause a signal to be generated which will be received by a system receiver to indicate that an unauthorized presence of a tagged article has been detected within the interrogation zone. Accordingly, alarms may sound or personnel may otherwise be alerted to the event such that the shoplifting can be thwarted at the exit port of the retail establishment.
Most of the tack-based EAS tags are constructed such that the tags which are removed at the checkout register may be re-attached to other merchandise for reuse. In general, the tack of the EAS tag may only be removed through the operation of a specialized detaching mechanism by store personnel. In some systems, the detaching mechanism includes a probe which is inserted within the EAS tag to trigger a release latch located deep within the interior of the EAS tag and generally beyond the reach of foreign objects which could be used by a shoplifter, such as safety pins, pencils, wire probes, and the like. In other systems, magnetic detachers are used that have a magnetic strength from anywhere between 150 to 750 Gauss. These systems use a magnetic force to release the pin or tack from a clutching mechanism. Both magnetic and mechanical detachment systems are popular in retail establishments today.
In the patent art, electronic security tags have claimed a variety of specific forms and constructions over the years, and a wide assortment of attachment mechanisms have been claimed. An EAS tag featuring a tack which is releasably retained within the tag housing is generally well known in the art although the tack retention and release means have been the subject of numerous innovations. One such tag that has been commonly used in prior art systems is that claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,419 by Nguyen et al., entitled "Security Tag Having Arcuate Channel and Detacher Apparatus for Same". The Nguyen tag is comprised of a tack and a tag body. The tack shaft is inserted through a pin hole in the tag body and the tack is retained within the tag by a clutching mechanism. In order to release the clutching mechanism, a specific arcuate-shaped detachment tool must be inserted through an opening in the end of the tag. The opening within which the disengagement probe must be inserted features an arcuate channel which guides the probe from the opening to the release trigger for the clutching means. The arcuate probe and channel provide a measure of security since it would be difficult for a shoplifter to insert a foreign object having the proper shape into the tag for release of the clutching means. A similar tag construction is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,914 by Nguyen et al. wherein an EAS tag is releasably attached to the protected item with a spring clamp and a tack which is clamped to the tag body using a clutch-lock assembly. The detaching mechanism includes a probe adapted for insertion into the tag along with a drive means and timing means for controlling the energization of the drive such that it properly engages the release mechanism for the clutch-locked tack or spring clamp. Although novel in many respects, the Nguyen devices require yet another expensive detachment device which complicates the checkout area in the retail establishment. Multiple styles of detachment operation systems require too much space from the perspective of the retailer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,400 B1 by Rand et al. discloses a security tag consisting of a security anchor with a central aperture. A security wire is threaded through the aperture in the anchor and is held securely. A PC board which includes a presence-detection diode is connected to one end of the security wire. Although perhaps effective as a shoplifting deterrent, the Rand mechanism is quite cumbersome and labor intensive to install and utilize.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,950 B1 by Nguyen discloses a tag assembly wherein the tack is modified to include a biasing structure such as a compression spring oriented within a tack assembly housing. The biasing structure serves to move the tack head and tack between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the tack extends from the aperture in the tack housing and can be pushed through the article and into the receiving aperture of the security tag. In the retracted position, the tack is positioned entirely within the tack housing such that the point of the tack is not exposed and therefore cannot cause injury to store personnel or others.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,390 B1 by Hogan et al. entitled "Electronic Article Surveillance Tag Having Arcuate Channel" features a tag body with an arcuate channel wherein an arcuate shaped detaching probe is used to release a tack from the security tag housing. The structure includes a spring clamp mechanism which provides the resistance to hold the shaft of the tack in place within the tag housing. The improvement disclosed by Hogan is the inclusion of an abutment means within the arcuate channel such as to prevent the insertion of a wire into the channel for contact with the releasing means. In general, the abutment means consists of a rigid planar abutment within the detachment channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,117 B2 by Okuno entitled "Anti-Theft Device" features a clamp member for clamping the pin of an attachment tack within a pinhole of the tag body. The tag body further houses an on/off switch which is to be depressed by a button on the attaching member and further features a theft alarm operable under the controls of on/off signals from the on/off switch. Such a system is unnecessarily complicated and is not as durable or universal as a purely passive mechanism for retaining a tack shaft within the tag housing.
In general, the prior art devices suffer from a number of drawbacks that limit the applicability of the device. In some cases, the tag article is too complicated to install or remove. In other cases, the tag article is too easy to defeat. Also, many articles require a specific detachment mechanism that is unique for that style of tag, requiring the retailer to purchase additional equipment for each checkout counter, and none of the prior art tag articles can be removed by either a magnetic detacher or a probe-style detacher. The present invention overcomes those obstacles.


Methods and devices are shown for improving an existing route between a first node and a second node in a first ad-hoc network that includes a plurality of nodes, the method and devices selecting based on a predetermined performance criterion or criteria one of a plurality of candidate routes between the first node and the second node, wherein each candidate route includes at least one inter-node link that is not included within the first ad-hoc network and at least one candidate route including multiple inter-node links; initializing, via the existing route, the use of the inter-node links of the selected candidate route; and switching from using the existing route to using the candidate route.

The basic communication network in Bluetooth networks is called a Piconet. The channel access in a Piconet is managed by a Master which is one of the participants in the communication. All other participants in the communication are called Slaves. A master is allowed to serve at most 7 slaves, and a Master can be a Slave in another Piconet. A Slave can also be a Slave in another Piconet. A Master or a Slave that participates in multiple Piconets is called a bridge node and acts as a router between the Piconets. A connected network that spans more than one Piconet is called a Scatternet. Ad hoc multi-hop networks in Bluetooth networks are formed using Scatternets.
Multi hop communications are useful for extending the communication range of a device which is constrained by the maximum device capacity of a Bluetooth Piconet and/or user preferences. For example, a smart phone may prefer to communicate through its trusted laptop or PDA to the outside world. Hence in Bluetooth based ad hoc networks, having two devices within their nominal communication range is not a guarantee that they establish a direct link. This constrains the network topology.
Network topology has a great influence on the performance of the network. A casually designed network topology might be inefficient, and also might preclude some of the applications that otherwise could operate on the network.
Most of the network formation research for Bluetooth based ad hoc networks concentrates on finding an optimal initial topology for a scatternet.
One problem with static network formation protocols is that when a node moves and the topology changes, the initial criteria satisfied by the topology may no longer be valid.
Node mobility calls for a network topology optimization strategy as an integral part of mobility management and/or data traffic routing. This application takes the second approach and addresses the problem of network topology optimization while routing the data traffic.
Adapting the topology of a network based on the requirements of a data flow is known. "A Two-Phase Scatternet Formation Protocol for Bluetooth Wireless Personal Area Network", Kawamoto, Y. et al, WCNC 2003—IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference, vol. 3, 16-20 Mar. 2003, pages 1453-1458, discloses a two-phase scatternet formation protocol that supports dynamic topology changes. In a first phase, a control scatternet is constructed to support topology changes and route determination. The control scatternet does not operate according to the Bluetooth specification, but instead the piconets are synchronized so that there are common periods when a bridge node switches between piconets without informing the masters about the timing of each switch over. The second phase creates a separate on-demand scatternet whenever a source node wants to initiate data communications with another destination node. The on-demand scatternet formation is itself divided into two steps. In the first step, the control scatternet is used in the selection of a route in the control scatternet between a source and the master serving a destination. In the second step, the master node with which the source node communicates with selects the participating nodes for the on-demand scatternet. The master node uses its own slaves' and adjacent neighbor information to choose the participating nodes. Each master node must maintain all the information of its slaves and bridge nodes within its piconet and adjacent piconets. The on-demand scatternet is torn down when the data transmissions are finished. It will be appreciated that there is a heavy overhead in setting-up and maintaining the control scatternet and that the on-demand scatternet is used only as a temporary addition to the static control scatternet.


A pen shaped syringe with automatic needle insertion has an injection system integrally displaceable in a housing and comprising a basic part carrying a medicine reservoir with a hypodermic needle at its distal end, and a dosing mechanism with a carrier engaging a cogged piston rod, the carrier being coupled to a dose spindle in a rotatable but not displaceable way. The dose spindle is provided with a thread engaging a thread in a sequence part having protrusions engaging slots in the basic part to allow a limited axial movement of the parts in relation to each other, the extent of the movement being defined by the rotational position of the dose spindle. A spring is compressed between the basic part and the housing when the basic part is moved in the proximal direction by exerting a cocking force on the sequence part which part after having performed the set limited axial movement in relation to the basic part carries this basic part against the force of the spring.

The invention relates to pen-shaped syringes with automatic needle insertion, which syringes have an injecting system comprising a basic part carrying a medicine reservoir being at its distal end provided with a hypodermic needle and being at its proximal end closed by a piston, a dosing mechanism having a carrier engaging a cogging on a piston rod to advance this rod in the distal direction to press the piston into the reservoir a distance corresponding to a set dose when an injection button is pressed, the injection system being integrally displaceable in a housing by a spring which may be compressed and released to displace the injection system in the distal direction in the housing to insert the needle into the skin of a patient.
Such pen shaped syringes are used by patients who treat themselves by frequently injecting a medicine dose which may be set individually immediately before each injection, and the setting is deleted when the injection is performed. Often the same dose is used by a number of injections, and consequently some patients might wish for a syringe by which the dose does not have to be set before each injection. Especially patients to whom a reduced tactile motor function makes it difficult to perform the setting would appreciate a syringe by which a setting is not deleted by the injection, but is remembered until it is altered voluntarily.


A workpiece engaging apparatus forms a hem at the edges of two overlapping sheets or workpieces. A plurality of guide members are pivotally interconnected at one end and have selectively shaped cams formed therein which are traversed by a cam follower driven by a linear drive. The cams and cam follower interact to pivot a hold down member mounted on one of the guide members into engagement with the overlapping workpieces to stationarily hold the workpieces during the hemming operation prior to the engagement of a hem bar attached to another of the guide members with an upstanding edge on one of the workpieces. Pivotal movement of the guide member having the hem bar attached thereto bends the flange of one of the workpieces around and over the edge of the adjacent workpiece to form a hem between the workpieces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to workpiece engaging tools used in manufacturing operations and, specifically, to hemming devices for forming a hem between two or more workpieces.
2. State of the Art
In manufacturing operations, various types of tools are employed to engage workpieces and/or to perform work on such workpieces. Typically, grippers and clamps are used to engage workpieces at the completion of one manufacturing operation and to remove such workpieces from one work station for subsequent transport to another work station or to a storage location.
In a typical stamping operation in which metal sheets are progressively formed to a final shape through a series of work operations in adjacently disposed stamping presses, grippers are employed to remove the metal sheet from each press and, in combination with additional parts handling equipment, to deposit the workpiece in an adjacent press or an intermediate idle station located between adjacent presses.
Typically, such grippers are formed of a number of interconnected pins and links which effect opening and closing of gripper jaws. Such mechanisms are complicated in construction and high in cost. Further, the pins and links of such grippers are employed to drive the gripper jaws into a position engaging the workpiece. This provides an inefficient and variable force to grip such workpieces.
In hemming applications, such as the manufacture of vehicle doors, deck lids, etc., the edge of one sheet of metal is bent around the edge of an adjacent disposed sheet to form a hem joining the two metal sheets together. Typically, a complex and elaborate machine is employed to bend the edge of one sheet around the edge of the adjacent sheet. Such machines utilize a complex arrangement of fluid cylinders and links to effect the bending of the metal edge or flange.
It would be desirable to provide a workpiece engaging apparatus for manufacturing operations which has a high workpiece engaging force and, yet, is simple in design. It would also be desirable to provide a workpiece engaging apparatus for manufacturing operations which can provide an infinite pressure to a workpiece. It would also be desirable to provide a workpiece engaging apparatus for manufacturing operations which simplifies a hemming application in which the edge of one sheet of metal is bent around the edge of another sheet of metal.


Methods and systems for accessing information in and loading encrypted information to memory. A processor provides virtual address information to a memory management unit. In response, the memory management unit retrieves a key tag and physical address information corresponding to the virtual address information. The memory management unit then sends the key tag and physical address information to the processor. The processor then determines whether a memory location corresponding to the physical address information is encrypted based on the key tag, and retrieves a secret key using the key tag based on the determining. Thereafter, information read from the memory location is decrypted using the secret key.

Software piracy, the unauthorized copying of programs, has been an issue for software creators since the advent of the microprocessor. Software vendors have dealt with the piracy issue by various means. One method for protecting software involves copy protection.
Some examples of copy protection solutions use measures such as registration or serialization (serial number) of software, hard to copy computer readable media (e.g., copy protected floppy disk or CD-ROM), passive hardware tokens, active hardware tokens, smart cards, and on-board copy protection chips. These approaches, however, may be circumvented by accessing the address and data paths of a computer directly, and using information collected there to recreate the original unencrypted executable code.
Another approach to software protection involves a crypto microprocessor. A crypto microprocessor is a plug-in replacement device for the conventional microprocessor, but is capable of executing encrypted instructions. An encrypted program may execute only on a designated computer system incorporating a crypto microprocessor which decrypts the program according to a specific key or algorithm. Crypto microprocessors can be built at reasonable cost, since the translation circuitry is not unduly complex. In addition, the method does not interfere with computer user's customary practices. For example, the user is able to copy his software for backup purposes.
Despite all these innovations, the software piracy problem continues to plague the software industry.

Secure CPU and memory management unit with cryptographic extensions


A urine sample is analyzed for urine chemistry, formed bodies, and rare event evidence, all in a single sample container and under low power magnification. The sample container includes a urine sample receiving chamber which is connected to a urine chemistry chamber, to a formed body isolation chamber, and to a rare events detection chamber, so that the urine can flow from the receiving chamber to the other three chambers. The container may also include a sterile chamber for receiving an auxiliary portion of the urine which may be used for further analysis by the clinician if necessary. The chemistry chamber contains a miniaturized urine dip stick which is scanned by an optical scanning instrument for color emissions. The formed body isolation chamber can be precoated with one or more stains, and is formed with a plurality of different through plane thicknesses whereby smaller formed bodies will be isolated in the smaller thickness regions of the chamber which the larger formed bodies cannot enter. The scanning instrument will scan the isolation chamber and can identify formed bodies by their characteristic light wave emission properties which result from the formed bodies exposure to the stains. The formed bodies can also be morphologically examined in the isolation chamber. The rare event detection chamber will include a component which will absorb essentially all of the water in the urine thus concentrating formed bodies on a surface in the chamber. This chamber can also be provided with one or more stains which will differentially highlight any rare events noted in the chamber by the scanning instrument. Rare events such as casts can be detected in this chamber.

Urinalysis involves chemical testing of the urine for clinically important chemically detectable constituents and parameters, and examining centrifuged sediment from the urine sample under magnification so as to identify and semi-quantitate the presence of formed bodies in the urine. A general discussion of the present state of the art relating to urinalysis is presented in an article authored by Jonathan Ben-Ezra et al, in Clinical Chemistry, Vol 44:1, pages 92-95 (1998).
Chemical testing of a urine sample generally involves analyzing the urine for one or more of the following constituents: glucose; bilirubin; ketones; blood; albumen; nitrites; red blood cells and free hemoglobin; leukocyte esterase; pH; urobilinogin; ascorbic acid; and specific gravity. These various determinations are made through the use of a dipstick having various chemical reagent bands printed thereon. Such dipsticks are commercially available from Bayer Corporation of Elkhart, Ind., as well as other commercial sources. The dipstick is dipped into a well mixed urine sample, and after a time period of thirty seconds to two minutes, the various reagent bands are visually or optically examined for color changes. The bands can be visually compared to a preprinted color chart in order to determine the amount of each of the constituents or parameters being measured. It is also possible to optically scan the dipstick and thereby obtain instrument readings of color intensity or wave length through the use of an instrument manufactured by Ames. Currently available instruments for optically scanning the dipstick bands do not distinguish lysed red blood cells from intact red blood cells, since lysed red blood cells create a different, color distribution on the blood band than do intact red blood cells. With lysed cells, the reaction color is relatively evenly distributed over the blood band, while with whole cells, the reaction color tends to be spotted on the blood band. Presently available instruments do not quantify the number of spots formed on the blood band from whole cells, but can merely quantify the overall color intensity sensed on the band.
In present day technology for quantitatively analyzing a urine sample for the presence of formed bodies such as both red and white blood cells; bacteria; crystals; fecal matter; parasites; spermatozoa; ova from parasites; as well as other formed bodies such as casts, the urine sample is centrifuged so as to separate the liquid phase from the formed body sediment in the urine, thereby concentrating the sediment. Ninety to ninety five percent of the liquid phase is then drawn off from the sediment and discarded, the sediment is re-suspended in the remaining liquid, and a drop of the resuspended sediment is examined under magnification on a microscope slide at low power, i.e., about 100.times., for the presence or absence of one or more of the aforesaid formed bodies which are morphologically distinguishable, one from another. This type of analysis provides a crude quantification of target formed bodies which are present in urine.
In present day technology for detecting rare events such as casts in the urine sample, the urine sample sediment is examined as above on a microscope slide. Proteinacious casts which are casts of the renal tubules, may be found in small quantities in normal urine. They may be described by the type of cells they contain such as those having included red cells, which are called red cell casts. The red cell casts are formed in the kidney and are indicative of bleeding in the kidneys prior to the renal collecting ducts and therefore can provide useful information to the clinician. White blood cell casts are indicative of infection of the kidney itself, as opposed to infection in just the urinary bladder. Types of casts include red cell casts, white cell casts, tubular epithelial cell casts, granular or waxy casts containing degenerated cellular components, and clear or hyaline casts. Other than hyaline casts, casts are rarely seen in normal healthy patients, and the range of quantity is described in the literature.
Instruments have been developed which both determine the chemical constituents of the urine and also assist in the microscopic analysis. Such an instrument is the Yellow IRIS, which automatically places the sample on the urine dipstick and then reads the chemical results. For analyzing the particulate components, urine is passed through a flow cell, where a high speed camera captures the images of the particles as they pass through the flow cell and then displays the images so that the technician can classify them. This approach requires less technological time than a purely manual approach, but the instrument is very expensive, prone to malfunctions, and requires a technologist to interpret the particulates which are photographed.
It would be highly desirable to have a single system which could be used to perform a complete urine sample analysis, i.e., urine chemistry, urine blood cell counts, urine bacteria counts, rare event detection, all without significant human intervention, and in an uncomplicated and reliable instrument.

Method and apparatus for performing chemical, qualitative, quantitative, and semi-quantitative analyses of a urine sample


A thin film piezoelectric device includes a substrate (12) having via holes (22) and a piezoelectric laminated structure (14) consisting of a lower electrode (15), a piezoelectric film (16), and an upper electrode (17) formed on the substrate (12) via an insulation layer (13). A plurality of thin film piezoelectric resonators (210, 220) are formed for the via holes (22). The piezoelectric laminated structure (14) includes diaphragms (23) located to face the via holes (22) and a support area other than those. The thin film piezoelectric resonators (210, 220) are electrically connected by the lower electrode (15). When the straight line in the substrate plane passing through the centers (1, 2) of the diaphragms (23) of the thin film piezoelectric resonators (210, 220) has the length D1 of the segment passing through the support area and the distance between the centers of the diaphragms of the thin film piezoelectric resonators (210, 220) is D0,the ratio D1/D0 is 0.1 to 0.5. The via hole (22) is fabricated by the deep graving type reactive ion etching method.

A device utilizing a piezoelectric phenomenon has been used in a broad field. While miniaturization and power saving of a portable apparatus advance, use of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device as a filter for RF and IF filter has been increased. An SAW filter has met user's strictly required specifications by improvement of design and production technique, but improvement of characteristics has been nearly limited with increase of a utilized frequency, and a great technical innovation has been required both in miniaturization of electrode formation and securement of stable output.
On the other hand, in a thin film bulk acoustic resonator (hereinafter referred to as FBAR) and stacked thin film bulk acoustic resonators and filters (hereinafter referred to as SBAR) utilizing thickness vibration of a piezoelectric thin film, a thin film mainly constituted of a piezoelectric material, and electrodes for driving it are formed on a thin support film disposed on a substrate, and basic resonance in a gigahertz band is possible. When the filter is constituted of FBAR or SBAR, it is possible to achieve remarkable miniaturization, low loss/broad band operation and integration with a semiconductor integrated circuit, which are expected to be applicable to a future extremely miniature portable apparatus.
A thin film piezoelectric resonator or vibrator such as FBAR, SBAR applied to the resonator, filter or the like utilizing the elastic wave is manufactured as follows.
A substrate film or base film made of a dielectric thin film, an electric conductor thin film, or a laminate thereof is formed on a substrate of a semiconductor single crystal such as silicon, polycrystal diamond formed on a silicon wafer, insulator such as glass, or a constantly elastic metal such as elinvar by various thin film forming methods. A piezoelectric thin film is formed on this substrate film, and an upper structure is further formed if necessary. After forming each layer, or forming all layers, each film is subjected to a physical or chemical treatment to thereby perform patterning and etching. A suspended structure in which a portion positioned under a vibration portion is removed from the substrate is prepared by anisotropic etching based on a wet process, thereafter the obtained structure is separated by the unit of one device if necessary, and accordingly a thin film piezoelectric device is obtained.
For example, a thin film piezoelectric resonator described in JP(A)-58-153412 or JP(A)-60-142607 is manufactured, when a substrate film, a lower electrode, a piezoelectric thin film, and an upper electrode are formed on the upper surface of a substrate, thereafter a via hole is formed by removing a portion of the substrate under a portion constituting the vibration portion from the lower surface of the substrate. When the substrate is made of silicon, a via hole is formed by etching and removing a part of the silicon substrate from the back surface using a heated KOH aqueous solution. Accordingly, a resonator can be prepared having a configuration in which an edge portion of a structure consisted of a layer of a piezoelectric material sandwiched between metal electrodes is supported by a portion around the via hole on the front surface (upper surface) of the silicon substrate.
However, when wet etching is performed using alkali such as KOH, side planes of the via hole are inclined 54.7 degrees with respect to a (100) silicon substrate surface because the etching proceeds in parallel with (111) face, and a distance between centers of adjacent resonators has to be remarkably enlarged. For example, when a resonator having a vibration portion with a plane dimension of about 150 μm×150 μm is constituted on a silicon wafer with thickness of 300 μm, the resonator requires a back-surface etching hole of about 575 μm×575 μm and the distance between the centers of the adjacent resonators is 575 μm or more. This inhibits high density integration of an FBAR resonator. Moreover, when metal electrodes disposed in such a manner as to sandwich a piezoelectric thin film are extended to connect adjacent resonators, electric resistance increases because of longer distance of the metal electrodes. Therefore, there is a problem that insertion loss of the thin film piezoelectric device prepared by combining a plurality of FBAR resonators becomes remarkably large. An acquired amount of final products, that is, the number of thin film piezoelectric resonators formed per unit area on a wafer is limited, and a region of about 1/15 of a wafer area is only utilized for the resonator to produce devices.
A second method of the conventional technique to manufacture thin film piezoelectric resonators such as FBAR, SBAR applied to the thin film piezoelectric device is making of an air bridge type FBAR device as described, for example, in JP(A)-2-13109. Usually, a sacrificial layer is disposed at first, and next a piezoelectric resonator is produced on this sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed in or near the end of the process, and the vibration portion is formed. Since all processes are performed on the wafer front surface, this method does not require alignment of patterns on the opposite surfaces of the wafer or a large area opening in the back surface of the wafer. In JP(A)-2000-69594, a constitution and a manufacturing method of an air bridge type FBAR/SBAR device using phosphor silicate glass (PSG) as the sacrificial layer are described.
However, in this method, a long complicated step is required. That is, after a series of steps of formation of a hollow in the front surface of the wafer by etching, deposition of the sacrificial layer on the front surface of the wafer by a thermal enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, planarization and smoothening of the wafer surface by CMP polishing, and deposition of the lower electrode, the piezoelectric thin film, and the upper electrode and formation of the pattern on the sacrificial layer, a via (hole) extending to the hollow is made, an upper structure deposited on the front surface of the wafer is protected by a resist or the like, and an liquid etching reagent is penetrated through the via hole to thereby remove a sacrificial material from the hollow. Moreover, the number of masks for use in forming the pattern largely increases. As the manufacturing step is long and complicated, the cost of the device is increased, yield of a product drops, which results in further increase of the cost of the device. It is difficult to spread this expensive device as a general-purpose component for a mobile communication apparatus. Since the liquid etching reagent for use in removing sacrificial materials such as phosphor silicate glass (PSG) corrodes the layers of the lower electrode, the piezoelectric thin film, and the upper electrode constituting the upper structure, the materials usable in the upper structure are remarkably limited, Furthermore, there is a serious problem that it is difficult to prepare an FBAR or SBAR structure having a desired dimensional precision.
As piezoelectric materials for the thin film piezoelectric device, aluminum nitride (AlN), zinc oxide (ZnO), cadmium sulfide (CdS), lead titanate (PT(PbTiO3)), lead zirconate titanate (PZT(Pb(Zr, Ti)O3)) and the like are used. Especially, AlN has a high propagation speed of an elastic wave, and is suitable as the piezoelectric material for a thin film piezoelectric resonator and a thin film filter operating in a high-frequency band region.
Since the FBAR and SRAR obtain resonance by propagation of the elastic wave in the thin film, resonance characteristics of the FBAR and SBAR are largely influenced by not only vibration characteristics of the piezoelectric thin film but also those of the electrode layer or the substrate film. Therefore, various restrictions exist from a vibration characteristic aspect with respect to shapes and thicknesses of the electrode layer and the substrate film. For example, when the electrode layer or the substrate film is thickened, there is a problem that effective electromechanical coupling coefficient of the FBAR or SBAR is reduced. On the other hand, when the metal electrode layer is thinned and elongated, conductor loss becomes higher by the increase of electric resistance, and therefore various restrictions are generated in designing the structure of the thin film piezo electric device prepared by combining a plurality of FBARs or SBARs.
The thin film piezoelectric device exerting a sufficient performance in a gigahertz band has not been obtained for the above reason. Therefore, there has been a strong demand for realization of a high-performance thin film piezoelectric device in which all characteristics such as an electromechanical coupling coefficient, acoustic quality factor (Q value), temperature stability of a resonant frequency, and insertion loss of a vibration portion including not only the piezoelectric thin film but also the electrode layer and the substrate film are improved. Especially, the insertion loss is an important parameter which influences the performance in constituting the resonator or the filter, and largely depends on the quality and characteristics of the metal electrode thin film for use.

Thin film piezoelectric resonator, thin film piezoelectric device, and manufacturing method thereof


A method of operating in a network in which a plurality of stations communicate over a shared medium (e.g., using a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) service). The stations contend for access to the shared medium using a contention procedure that relies on a priority level, wherein transmissions with a lower priority level have a reduced chance of gaining access to the shared medium during a contention process. Selected stations are given the capability of temporarily promoting the priority level of transmissions they are attempting to make. The priority level is increased during an interval to reduce the chance that other stations gain access to the shared medium during that interval, and the priority level is restored to its normal level following the interval.

Data communication is presently conducted over AC power lines within homes using the HomePlug 1.0 specification, which uses the well-known carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) technique for medium sharing. Using this mechanism, a station senses the medium to determine if the medium is busy. If the medium is determined to be idle, the transmission may proceed. If the medium is busy, the transmission should defer until the end of current transmission. After the end of current transmission, stations go through a priority resolution process in the priority resolution slots. The result of the priority resolution process is that stations with the highest priority in the network will contend in the contention resolution slots while other stations defer from accessing the medium. Proper operation of the HomePlug 1.0 protocol requires that all station properly determine the start of the priority resolution period. This is achieved by using the broadcast information contained in the frames, which the HomePlug 1.0 specification refers to as the MAC protocol data units (MPDUs).
Payload is exchanged between HomePlug 1.0 stations using what the specification calls a Long MPDU. A Long MPDU consists of a Start of Frame (SOF) delimiter, Payload, End of Frame Gap (EFG) and End of Frame (EOF) delimiter. A long MPDU can support eight different payload lengths. The SOF delimiter indicates whether a response is expected, the frame length (FL) and Contention Control (CC) Information. The EOF delimiter indicates whether a response is expected, Contention Control (CC) and Channel Access priority (CAP) information. HomePlug 1.0 stations use a Response delimiter to transmit MAC level acknowledgments. The Response delimiter indicates the type of response (ACK, NACK or FAIL), Contention Control (CC) and Channel Access priority (CAP) information.
FIG. 1 shows the activity on the medium when a Long MPDU with response expected is transmitted. The Response delimiter appears a prescribed duration—known as the Response Interframe Space (RIFS) duration—after the transmission of the Long MPDU. The Response delimiter is followed by a Contention Interframe Space (CIFS) and the priority resolution slots (PRS). Priority resolution slots are followed by contention slots.
FIG. 2 shows the activity on the medium when a Long MPDU with no response expected is transmitted. In this case, the Long MPDU is followed by a contention interframe space (CIFS) and the priority resolution slots (PRS), which are followed by contention slots.
The information contained in various delimiters (e.g., the Long MPDU and the Response) along with the knowledge of various interframe spacing is used by HomePlug 1.0 stations to determine the start time of the priority resolution slots.
HomePlug 1.0 stations process packets received from higher layers and transfer them to the desired destination(s) using Long MPDUs. If a packet cannot fit in a single Long MPDU, the packet is segmented and each segment is transmitted using a Long MPDUs. One important aspect of HomePlug 1.0 protocol is Segment Bursting. Segment Bursting allows a station to transmit MPDUs carrying segments of a packet in a single burst using a contention free access mechanism of HomePlug 1.0. The contention free access mechanism can also be to transmit multiple packets in a single burst.
The contention free access mechanism uses the CC and CAP priority information broadcast in the delimiters. Using this mechanism, a station that has multiple segments pending sets the CC to 0b1 and CAP to the packet priority in the first MPDU. For Long MPDUs that require a response, the receiver repeats the received CC and CAP in the Response delimiter. When stations detect a transmission with CC set to 0b1, they defer from priority resolution and subsequent contention if their traffic has a priority of less than or equal to CAP. Thus, the station continues to transmit the remainder of the MPDUs with CC set to 0b1. The last MPDU in the burst is transmitted with CC set to 0b0, thus allowing other stations to access the medium.
Although HomePlug 1.0 based systems are widely used, they are not ideal for supporting multimedia applications. This is due to the uncontrolled nature of channel access in HomePlug 1.0 networks makes it difficult to support quality of service (QoS) guarantees. QoS can be evaluated in terms of latency, jitter, and packet loss probability (PLP), where latency is how much time it takes for a packet of data to get from one device to another, jitter is a random variation in the delay between the arrival of one packet of data and a consecutive packet of data, and PLP is a probability of losing a packet of data transmitted from one device to another device. Other protocols that can support QoS over AC power lines can be hampered in the presence of HomePlug 1.0 legacy stations in the network. HomePlug 1.0 based systems also suffer from poor network performance resulting from segment bursting. Since segment bursting is common at low data rates, these connections use most of the time available. This unfair access can reduce-the network throughput.

Temporary priority promotion for network communications in which access to a shared medium depends on a priority level