A method of malicious network activity detection. An intrusion detection system provides defense against distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks through an efficient modeling process based on grey theory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for detecting distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks, and in particular, to an analyzing method based on grey theory for detecting DDOS attacks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, malicious network activities are detected through comparison of ongoing traffic data to previously obtained traffic data within certain periods of time, such as network flow in one week. For example, to determine an occurrence of network intrusion at mid-night on a Wednesday, traffic data from the previous Wednesday is compared, and if any malicious network activity is determined, a defense procedure is activated. Considerable data storage is consumed in achieving the determination, and computation resources are taxed when searching and comparing stored traffic data. Currently, to overcome bottlenecks in data calculation speed, costly hardware is utilized along with various data mining technologies and applications.
In data mining, messages hidden in various data are analyzed and categorized. Various methodologies, each having different advantages and applicability are utilized in data mining. Methods are divided into those based on traditional statistical theories, such as identifying valuable messages in data or distribution of different data types, and those having close relationships with traditional artificial intelligence domains, such as grouping, categorizing, and similarity searching. Many of the methods therein are highly developed with significant results. In addition to traditional quality determination of standard data testing, data mining has currently been utilized with database technologies.
Intrusion detection systems are therefore applied with theories of data mining to quantify, categorize, group, and label network traffic data in various mathematical methodologies. First, network traffic data is converted to sequences. Thereafter, corresponding characteristic patterns are built through algorithms such as sequential pattern mining, and then compared with previously built characteristic patterns stored in an existing knowledge database to determine whether a similarity threshold is exceeded. The characteristic patterns are assessed as identical when the similarity threshold is exceeded, and if the new characteristic patterns are supersets of the old ones, the knowledge database is updated accordingly. If the characteristic patterns do not previously exist in the knowledge database, they are analyzed by an assessment module, and the result is fed back to the knowledge database as new rules for further intrusion detection and system management.
Intrusion detection is currently accomplished through statistics and data mining, and relies on hardware to overcome computation speed bottlenecks. While characteristic patterns are sought, network traffic data is extended infinitely, whereby loading may be too high for the system to complete the detection, and storage capacity may be insufficient to store network traffic data. Current high volumes of traffic and rapid migration of malicious activity characteristics combine to easily thwart conventional statistical and data mining technology. When DDOS attacks occur, not only do system administrators suffer, but entire enterprises may be seriously affected.

Method of detecting distributed denial of service based on grey theory


Improved fecal occult blood test having a matrix such as paper printed or impregnated with guaiac. The improvement comprises increasing the sensitivity while maintaining or improving the specificity of the test by employing an alcoholic peroxide developing solution which contains an enhancing agent. The enhancers comprise phenolic type compounds such as esters of parahydroxybenzoic acids.

Specimen test slides and procedures for detecting occult blood in fecal matter are well known. For example, U.S Pat. No. 3,996,006 discloses slides having a specimen receiving sheet between a front panel and a rear panel with openings in the front and rear panels and pivotal covers or flaps to cover these openings. One such test slide is sold under the trademark of `Hemoccult`.
The specimen receiving sheet is generally an absorbent paper impregnated with a guaiac reagent. The hemoglobin catalyzed oxidation of the guaiac extract coated paper is used clinically to detect occult blood in feces. Briefly, the test procedure is as follows.
A sample of fecal matter is smeared onto the guaiac paper through an opening of the front panel. The panel is then covered and the flap of the rear panel is opened. A developing solution such as hydrogen peroxide is applied to the guaiac paper via the corresponding opening in the rear panel. If blood is present in the fecal matter, the guaiac reaction will color the paper blue. The overall reaction is a follows: ##STR1##
One of the problems associated with this test is the number of false negatives, i.e., negative test results in samples of known bleeding patients. The test is not sensitive enough to pick up lower levels of blood in the feces.
Another disadvantage of the guaiac test is that other non hemoglobin type compounds present in the stool, such as peroxidases present in certain foods, will also catalyze the oxidation of guaiac and result in a blue color. This results in false positive reaction, i.e., a positive reaction without fecal occult blood present.
Previous attempts have been made to increase the sensitivity of the present Hemoccult.RTM. test. Hydration of the smear prior to development is often employed. However, while hydration produces a more sensitive test the method also adversely affects the specificity of the test. It produces unacceptable high false positive rates by reacting with other interfering substances such as vegetable peroxidases.
It is therefore the object of this invention to increase the sensitivity of the test while improving or maintaining the specificity of the current Hemoccult.RTM. test. Increasing the sensitivity includes detecting lower levels of blood in the feces and obtaining greater readability, i.e., obtaining a clearer and deeper blue color with the same concentrations.
Briefly, this invention consists of an improved developing solution for determining fecal occult blood in a sample using a test matrix containing guaiac. The solution comprises an alcoholic solution of hydrogen peroxide and certain enhancing agents. The developer is largely alcoholic, containing a minimum amount of water. It was unexpectedly discovered that when these enhancing agents were added to the developing solution a more intense and readable blue color end point resulted than obtained in the current fecal occult blood tests. Further, the novel solution of this invention degrades and inhibits the more labile peroxidases which also catalyze the oxidation and produce the same color change.
The enhancers employed in this invention comprise phenolic type compounds. Examples of such enhancers are esters of hydroxybenzoic acid such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, benzyl, and phenyl parahydroxybenzoates. Preferably the lower alkyl esters of p hydroxybenzoic acid having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, also known as parabens, are employed in this invention. Other examples of enhancers are phenol, guaiacol, p hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,5-dimethylphenol, methyl salicylate, 3,5 dichlorophenol, p-nitrophenol, p-bromophenol. The enhancer is present in an amount of from about 0.4% to about 20% by weight of the developer solution. Preferably the enhancer is present from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the developer.
The developing solution is largely alcoholic. The alcohol employed may be any of the lower alkanols, i.e., containing one to four carbon atoms. The alcohol will be present in an amount of from 60% to about 90% by weight of the developer, preferably from about 70% to about 90%. Advantageously, ethanol is the alcohol employed.
The stabilized hydrogen peroxide will be present from about 1% to about 10% by weight, preferably from about 3% to about 6% by weight of the developing solution.
Water will be present from about 7% to about 23% by weight, preferably from about 7% to about 14% by weight of the developing solution.
Tests were conducted to demonstrate the advantages of the novel developing solution of this invention over the conventional developer employed in the fecal occult blood tests. These tests were performed by spiking fecal samples with various concentrations of blood. Whole blood in the amounts of 0, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 ml of blood were added to 100 gm of feces. Horseradish peroxidase was also added to fecal samples for this study. The color rating scale employed was as follows.
______________________________________ SCALE DESCRIPTION ______________________________________ - No blue color. + Very faint, barely detectable (trace) blue. Blue color fades rapidly and disappears within one minute. ++ Faint blue color after development. +++ Distinctly blue color. ++++ Intense blue color. Wider area of blue color coverage. ______________________________________


A one piece molded assembly including a first part and a second part integral with the first part. The first part includes a first member engageable with a second member formed by the second part so as to form an articulation of the first part and the second part about an axis. Two linking strips are connected to the first and second parts to provide a spring-effect assist for opening and closing of the assembly about the axis, the linking strips crossing the axis in an intermediate position between an open position and a closed position of the assembly.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an assembly of two parts which are articulated to each other by a hinge of the type with assisted opening/closing, also known as a snap action type hinge. An assembly of this type may, in particular, be formed from a closure element of the type comprising a body on which a closure cap is articulated. Alternatively, it may be a container of the type comprising a lid articulated to a base. A container of this type may have the form of a case of the make-up-case type, or a pot, or any other form of container capable of being closed by an articulated lid.
Particularly as regards closure elements, it is known to produce such elements in two unitarily molded polyethylene or polypropylene parts. The two parts can be folded about an axis and joined by film hinges with at least one intermediate element arranged between them. The intermediate element is capable of forming a spring in order, after an unstable balance position has been passed, to bias the cap of the closure element into the closed or substantially closed or open position. With a configuration of this type, the axis of articulation is defined by the film hinge which may break after having been handled a number of times. Accordingly, a structure of this type is not the most appropriate for articulating the lid of a case to its base, particularly for reasons of strength and appearance. The same applies to articulating a lid to a pot or another container of the same type.
EP-B-699,591 shows a structure in which the spring function is provided by a member of a lid which, during assembly, is positioned in a corresponding housing of the base to which the lid is articulated. The articulation axis is defined by conventional film hinges. Moreover, with this type of design only opening is assisted. Upon closure, the member forming the spring exerts a return force opposed to the closure movement.
It is known, particularly from U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,902, to provide tabs on a lid, which tabs form a spring and are capable of interacting with members of the same type carried by a base to which the lid is articulated. The articulation axis about which the lid pivots is formed from one or more film hinges.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,151 describes a bottle cap of the type comprising a body intended to be mounted on a container and a cap capable of reversibly closing an orifice in the body of the cap. In an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position, the distance between two ends of an elastic linking strip passes a minimum value, the linking strip in this position being compressed so as to form a spring. A configuration of this type is perceived by consumers to be awkward to open and to close. Moreover, it is relatively weak.
It is one object of the present invention to produce an assembly of two parts which are articulated to each other, totally or partially solving the problems mentioned above.
It is a further object of the present invention to produce an assembly, articulated by a spring-effect hinge, which is reliable and economical to produce.
According to the invention, the above and other objects are achieved by a molded one piece assembly, including a first part, and a second part articulated to the first part by a spring-effect hinge. At least one linking strip provides assisted opening and closing of the assembly about a fixed articulation axis (A). The first part forms at least one member capable, after molding, of being placed in engagement with at least one corresponding member formed by the second part so as to form at least one articulation zone about the axis (A), the linking strip or strips being capable, in an intermediate position between an open position and a closed position of the assembly, of crossing the axis (A).
There is thus produced an articulated assembly of which the opening and closing are assisted. The assembly thus produced offers all the advantages of structures articulated as a single piece, particularly in terms of manufacturing cost. Moreover, the axis of articulation has, in terms of robustness and appearance, characteristics which are similar to those of articulations of the attached-pin type. The ease of use afforded by a structure in which the linking strip intersects the axis is generally judged to be more satisfactory than that afforded by a structure of the type described in the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,151.
According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the linking strip comprises a first end integral with the first part and a second end integral with the second part, the distance between the first and second ends passing a maximum value in the intermediate position. Thus, in the closed position of the assembly, the linking strip intersects a closure plane (PF). By passing through the intermediate position, it is subject to maximum tension. After passing through the intermediate position, according to a relative movement of the first and second parts in a first direction, the linking strip elastically returns the second part into the closed or substantially closed position. After passing through the intermediate position, in a direction which is opposite from the first, the linking strip elastically returns the second part to the open position.
According to a particular embodiment, the assembly according to the invention comprises a linking strip positioned between two articulation zones defining the axis (A). According to an alternative, the assembly comprises two linking strips separated by an articulation zone defining the axis (A).
Preferably, the member formed by the first part consists of a pin, and the member formed by the second part consists of a housing oriented parallel to the pin and intended to receive the pin via an opening oriented parallel to the pin, or vice versa.
The opening of the housing or housings is delimited by two edges and advantageously extends over an angle such that the pin elastically deforms the edges upon snap-fitting of the pin in the housing. In this way, the risk of the pin becoming detached from its housing is substantially reduced.
The piece may be formed from a single thermoplastic material, for example a polyethylene or a polypropylene. Alternatively, it may, for example, be produced by dual injection and is formed from at least two physically/chemically compatible materials, i.e., materials that are capable, in the molten state, of together forming physical/chemical bonds. By way of example, it may be formed from a first thermoplastic material forming the linking strip or strips and from a second thermoplastic material forming the remainder of the piece. Thus, the linking strips are formed by a first material having the necessary elasticity characteristics for their proper functioning while the remainder of the assembly has the characteristics, particularly of hardness or of shine, which are necessary for the appearance sought. A configuration of this type is particularly suitable if the assembly is to form a case, particularly a make-up case.
The first material may, in particular, be an elastomer (particularly a thermoplastic elastomer of the SANTOPRENE(copyright) OR KRATON(copyright) type), it being possible for the second material to be, for example, a polypropylene or a polyethylene.
According to a first embodiment, the assembly according to the invention forms a closure element, the first part forming a body intended to be mounted (in particular by snap-fitting or screwing) on a container, the body delimiting at least one exit passage in communication with an opening of the container, the second part being formed by a cap capable of temporarily closing the exit passage.
According to a second embodiment, the assembly consists of a container, the first part constituting a receptacle delimiting at least one compartment capable of containing a product, the second part forming a lid capable of covering the at least one compartment. Advantageously, the container allows reversible locking of the lid on the receptacle in the closed position.
Preferably, the container is in the form of a substantially flat case, the base of which delimits at least one compartment for receiving a product, particularly in solid or pulverulent form. A product of this type may, for example, be a make-up product.


A hydrostatic drive assembly for a front wheel of a motorcycle type steered vehicle. The hydrostatic drive is configured so that the hydrostatic motor is nested behind the front fork and contained within the area encompassed by the hub of the front wheel so as to permit the use of a conventional type of front wheel and mounting arrangement.

This invention relates to a vehicle and more particularly to a vehicle such as a motorcycle in which all wheels are driven.
As is well known in many types of vehicles, only the wheels at one end of the vehicle are driven. With a motorcycle, the rear wheel is normally driven and the dirigible front wheel is not driven. There are times, however, where it is desirable to also drive the front wheel of a motorcycle. However, because of the unique arrangement for the front wheel steering and suspension, conventional transmission systems do not lend themselves to application to conventional type of motorcycles.
There have been proposed, therefore, motorcycle front wheel drives wherein a hydrostatic transmission is employed. This hydrostatic transmission is comprised of a pump driven by the engine and a hydrostatic motor which drives the front wheel through a gearing arrangement. In one type of arrangement which has been proposed, the hydrostatic motor is disposed on one side of the wheel and drives the wheel through a gear transmission. This places the motor in an exposed location where it is likely to be damaged. Furthermore, the exposed positioning for the motor also puts the hydraulic lines in a position where they also could be damaged. In addition the side to side balance of the motorcycle will become unbalanced.
With another type of arrangement, the hydrostatic motor is actually nested within the hub of the front wheel. This avoids some of the aforenoted problems but introduces problems of its own. For example, with this type of arrangement, the front fork assembly and front wheel must all be specially manufactured for this purpose. Thus, this type of system cannot be easily adapted to existing motorcycles.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved and simplified driving arrangement for a dirigible front wheel of a vehicle such as a motorcycle.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved and compact hydrostatic motor, front wheel drive arrangement for a motorcycle.
It is yet further object of this invention to provide a compact motor, transmission arrangement for driving a motorcycle front wheel wherein the front wheel can be relatively conventional in construction and the front fork need not be specially adapted for the hydrostatic drive.


A training system for use in a wide variety of training tasks and environments comprising a user interface simulating the same information available to a trainee in the task environment which allows the trainee to assert actions to the system; a domain expert which can use the same information available to the trainee and carry out the same task; a training session manager for evaluating such trainee assertions and providing guidance to the trainee appropriate to his acquired skill level; a trainee model which contains a history and summary of the trainee actions; an intelligent training scenario generator for designing increasingly complex training exercises based on the current skill level and any weaknesses or deficiencies that the trainee has exhibited in previous interactions; and a blackboard that provides a common fact base for communication between the other components of the system. The domain expert contains a list of "mal-rules" which typifies errors usually made by novice trainees. Also, the training session manager comprises "intelligent" error detection and error handling components. The present invention utilizes a rule-based language having a control structure using a specific message passing protocol for tasks which are procedural or step-by-step in structure. The trainee may reach "the solution" by any of a number of alternate valid paths.

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Training and Tutoring
A number of academic and industrial researchers have used artificial intelligence in an effort to teach a variety of subjects including geometry, computer programming languages, medical diagnosis and electronic trouble shooting. The earliest published reports which suggested the application of artificial intelligence concepts to teaching tasks appeared in the early 1970's. The article entitled "AI in CAI: An artificial Intelligence Approach to CAI" by J. R. Carbonell in the IEEE Transactions on Machine Systems, Vol. 11, No. 4, p. 190 (1970) and the article entitled "Towards Intelligent Teaching Systems" by J. R. Hartley and D. H. Sleeman in the International Journal of Machine Studies, Vol. 5, p. 215, (1973) are of specific interest. Hartley and Sleeman proposed an architecture for an intelligent tutoring system. However, since such proposal, no agreement has been reached among researchers on a general architecture for intelligent tutoring systems.
Examples of intelligent tutoring systems are SOPHIE (Brown, Burton & de Kleer, 1972, "Pedagogical, Natural Language and Knowledge Engineering Techniques in SOPHIE I, II, and III"; D. Sleeman & J. S. Brown (Eds.), Intelligent Tutoring Systems (p. 227). London: Academic Press), PROUST (Johnson & Soloway, April 1985, PROUST, Byte, Vol. 10, No. 4, p. 179) and LISP Tutor (Anderson & Reiser, April 1985, "The LISP Tutor," Byte, Vol. 10, No. 4, p. 159). SOPHIE was one of the first artificial intelligence ("AI") systems that was developed. SOPHIE was developed in response to a U.S. Air Force interest in a computer-based training course in electronic trouble shooting. SOPHIE contains three major components: an electronics expert with a general knowledge of electronic circuits, together with detailed knowledge about a particular type of circuit; a coach which examines student inputs and decides if it is appropriate to stop the student and offer advice; and a trouble shooting expert that uses the electronics expert to determine which possible measurements are most useful in a particular context. Although three versions of SOPHIE were produced, SOPHIE was never viewed as a finished product. One of the major problems associated with the SOPHIE systems was the lack of a user model.
PROUST and the LISP Tutor are two well-known, intelligent teaching systems that have left the laboratory for general application. PROUST, and its related program MICRO-PROUST, is a "debugger" for finding nonsyntactical errors in Pascal programs written by student programers. The developers of PROUST claim that it is capable of finding all of the bugs in at least 70% of the "moderately complex" programming assignments that it examines. PROUST contains an expert Pascal programer that can write "good" programs for the assignments given to students. Bugs are found by matching the assertions of the expert program with that of the student; mismatches are identified as "bugs" in the student program. After finding a bug, PROUST provides an English language description of the bug to the student, enabling the student to correct his or her error. PROUST cannot handle student programs that depart radically from the programming "style" of the expert.
The LISP Tutor is used to teach the introductory LISP course offered at Carnegie-Mellon University. The LISP Tutor system is based on the ACT (Adaptive Control of Thought) theory and consists of four elements: a structured editor which serves as an interface to the system for students, an expert LISP programmer that provides an "ideal" solution to a programming problem, a bug catalog that contains errors made by novice programmers, and a tutoring component that provides both immediate feedback and guidance to the student. Evaluations of the LISP Tutor show that it can achieve results similar to those obtained by human tutors. One of the LISP Tutor's primary features is its enforcement of what its authors regard as a "good" programming style. The "good" programming style feature prevents creative authorship by the student.
The existing systems are "intelligent tutoring or teaching systems." The teaching/tutoring task is distinguished from the training task. The training environment differs in many ways from an academic teaching environment. The differences are important in the design of an architecture for an intelligent training system. For example, assigned tasks are often mission-critical, i.e., the responsibility for lives and property depends on how well a person is trained to perform a task. Typically, people who are being trained already have significant academic and practical experience which is utilized in the task they are being trained to do. Also, trainees make use of a wide variety of training techniques. Different training techniques can range from the study of comprehensive training manuals, to simulations, to actual on-the-job training under the supervision of more experienced, trained personnel. Few tasks which require training must be accomplished by one method or style as exists in typical tutoring. Training a person to perform a task may require that considerable freedom be given the trainee in the exact manner in which the task may be accomplished.
People being trained for complex, mission-critical tasks are usually already highly motivated. Training for such complex tasks imposes on the trainer the responsibility for the accuracy of the training content and the ability of the trainer to correctly evaluate trainee actions. Typical tutoring systems do not provide such flexibility. A training system is intended to aid the trainee in developing skills for which he already has the basic or "theoretical" knowledge. A training system is not intended to impart basic knowledge such as mathematics or physics. Simply stated, a true training system is designed to help a trainee put into practice that which he already intellectually understands. Most importantly, a trainee must be allowed to perform an assigned task by any valid means. To achieve meaningful training, the flexibility to carry out any assigned task by any valid means is essential. Trainees must be able to retain and even hone an independence of thought and develop confidence in their ability to respond to problems, including problems which the trainee has never encountered and which the trainer may have never anticipated.
All phases of industry and government must maintain a large effort in training personnel. New personnel must be trained to perform the task which they are hired to perform, continuing personnel must be trained to upgrade or update their ability to perform assigned tasks and continuing personnel must be trained to perform new tasks. Often a great number of training methodologies are employed, singly or in concert. These methods include training manuals, formal classes, procedural computer programs, simulations, and on-the-job training. The latter method is particularly effective in complex tasks where a great deal of independence is granted to the task performer. Of course, on-the-job training is typically the most expensive and may be the most impractical training method, especially where there are many trainees and few experienced personnel to conduct such training.

General purpose architecture for intelligent computer-aided training

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A self-binding equipment tie may include a bendable core, a flexible cover surrounding the bendable core, and a cavity that surrounds the bendable core within the cover. The bendable core may retain a shape when bent into the shape. The bendable core may be bendable by hand. The bendable core may be unrestrained within the cavity such that the bendable core is moveable within the cavity along two degrees of freedom. The two degrees of freedom may be perpendicular to a length of the flexible cover. The bendable core may be adjacent to an interior surface of the flexible cover, where the interior surface defines the cavity.

Equipment may be bound together. The equipment may include a variety of pieces. The pieces may have different sizes and/or shapes. The pieces may have similar sizes and/or shapes. The equipment may be bound together for a variety of reasons. The equipment may be bound together to be stored. The equipment may be bound together to be transported. As an example, a loose set of PVC pipes may be bound together to be transported from a workshop to a job site. As another example, a loose set of logs may be bound together to be transported to a campsite and used as firewood. The equipment may be tied down during transport to prevent the equipment from falling off the vehicle. For example, a tarp may be used to cover and/or secure the equipment. The tarp may be secured to the vehicle by a tie-down.


In various embodiments, semiconductor components and methods to manufacture these components are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method to manufacture a semiconductor component is disclosed. The semiconductor includes a heat sink and a semiconductor die that has a first terminal on a top surface of the semiconductor die, a second terminal on the top surface of the die, and a third terminal on the bottom surface of the die. The method includes attaching a first portion of a leadframe structure to the first terminal of the semiconductor die. The method further includes attaching the second terminal of the semiconductor die to the heat sink after the attaching of the first portion of the leadframe structure to the first terminal of the semiconductor die, wherein the leadframe structure is spaced apart from the heat sink and is electrically isolated from the heat sink. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Semiconductor component manufacturers are constantly striving to increase the performance of their products. The packaging of semiconductor die may affect the performance of a semiconductor component that includes the semiconductor die. As those skilled in the art are aware, discrete semiconductor devices and integrated circuits are fabricated in wafers, which are then singulated or diced to produce semiconductor die. One or more semiconductor die are placed in a package to protect them from environmental and physical stresses.
The packing of semiconductor die should provide protection, permit transmission of electrical signals to and from the semiconductor die, and permit removal of heat generated by the semiconductor die. Further, different packing structures may increase the parasitic capacitances in a packaged semiconductor component which may decrease the frequency of operation of the packaged semiconductor component.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a semiconductor package that had improved thermal and electrical characteristics and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor package.
For simplicity of illustration and ease of understanding, elements in the various figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, unless explicitly so stated. Further, if considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding and/or analogous elements. In some instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present disclosure. The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the disclosure of this document and uses of the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, there is no intention that the appended claims be limited by the title, technical field, background, or abstract.


An erectable and transportable scaffold device adapted to be engaged on and supported on a support beam comprises front and rear frame structures which are pivotally interconnected by means of parallel side braces which are connected between the frame structures. A scaffold plate is pivotally connected to the lower ends of each of the front and rear frames. And the front frame is pivotal outwardly from the rear structure to form a cage within the front and rear structures and the side braces having a floor formed by a scaffold plate. The plate has upright bottom edges which fit flush against the insides of an angle member forming the sides of the front fra me structure so that it facilitates the holding of the structure in an erected cage forming position. A flexible or foldable member such as a chain or so is connected between the upper ends of each side of the front structure to the upper ends of each side of the rear structure. The rear structure also carries a rigid holding bracket rigidly connected to a bolt having a front pawl and a rear pawl which is slidable therealong and which may be engaged against a support structure such as an I-beam by threading a wing nut onto the bolt behind said year pawl to lock it in position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to the construction of scaffolding device and in particular to an improved scaffold which includes front and rear structures which are pivotally interconnected by parallel side braces so that the front structure may be suspended by means of a flexible element outwardly from the rear structure to form a cage.
And further the rear structure of the scaffolding device is fixed and settable safely, reliably and firmly to a support structure such as an I-beam in a place to construct.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The invention relates to the construction of a foldable scaffold device which is particularly useful in the erection of buildings or the construction of ships, etc. The foldable scaffold device of prior art is well known as shown in The U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,173.
And known scaffold device is secured in position on a supporting structure such as a beam through a fitting means. Said fitting means consists of a fitting member connected to a rear structure, a bolt connected to said fitting means, pawl being slidably supported on said bolt and a nut being threaded on said bolt backwardly behind said pawl. In an erected position of said scaffold device, said fitting member directly contacts with a front edge of H-sectional structure and said pawl contacts with a rear edge of a H-sectional structure and thereafter said pawl is tied from backward through said nut. Said fitting member of said scaffold device is fitted up to a hinge being freely rotatable to any directions and unstable. And then said scaffold device is unstably adapted and supported on a support beam with unsteady states.
Disadvantage of the known structures is that they are inclined in case of attaching a scaffold device by a strong threading force of said nut, because rear structures are pulled backwardly by a reaction of said threading. And the scaffold device is rotated to a direction such as pivoting a contact point with a H-sectional structure, and therefore it will be feared that work man in a scaffold floor is exposed himself to danger, for example, as the rear frame structure may be yielded and broken by a weight of him in case when he gets on an inclined scaffold cage, or as the scaffold may swing around the hinge.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an erectable and transportable scaffold cage adapted to be engaged on and supported on a support beam. Said scaffold cage comprises front and rear frame structures which are pivotally interconnected by means of parallel side braces which are connected between the frame structures. A scaffold plate is pivotally connected to the lower ends of each of the front and rear frames. And the front frame is pivotally outwardly from the rear structure to form a cage within the front and rear structures and the side braces having a floor formed by a scaffold plate. The plate has upright bottom edges, which fit flush against the insides of an angle member forming the sides of the front frame structure so that it facilitates the holding of the structure in an erected cage forming position. A flexible member such as a chain is connected between the upper ends of each side of the front structure to the upper ends of each side of the rear structure. The rear structure carries a holding bracket connected to a bolt having a front pawl and a rear pawl, which is slidable therealong and which may be engaged against a support structure such as an I-beam by threading a wing nut onto the bolt behind said rear pawl to lock it in position.
And further the rear structure also carries a holding bracket consisting of an unity and being rigidly fixed and connected to a bolt having a front pawl and a rear pawl which is slidable therealong and which may be engaged against a support structure such as an I-beam by threading a wing nut onto the bolt behind the rear pawl to lock it in position.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an erectable and transportable scaffold cage, which is not inclined even when it may be engaged with a strong force against a support structure such as an I-beam by threading a wing nut.
A further object of the invention is to provide an erectable and transportable scaffold cage, which is fixed and settable safely, reliably and firmly to a support structure without unsteady states.

1-chome, 10-ban, 1-go, Kakigara-cho, Nihonbashi


The present invention provides a technique relating to a failure propagation path estimate system which can realize an estimate process by adding the measurement result to the failure location estimate results estimated prior to the measurement, and which can realize high-speed re-calculation of only part of a large-scale circuit relating to the measurement point.

Conventionally, a failure location estimate system estimates a path which may be propagating a failure that conforms an output pattern that includes a failure output, and estimating the failure location based on that information.
According to the techniques described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Nos. 08-146093 and 10-062494, a sub-circuit relating to a failure output terminal is extracted to estimate a failure propagation path in the sub-circuit. If necessary, a sub-circuit on the input side is further extracted. Thus, all failure propagation paths are estimated. Then, the weights of the nodes on the paths are calculated based on the connection information of the estimated paths to determine and output nodes with heavier weights in the logic circuit as failure candidates.
Hereinafter, a structure of a conventional technique will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a failure propagation path estimate system according to a conventional technique.
Referring to FIG. 10, the system includes an input device 101 which is an interface for a keyboard or other external devices, a failure propagation path estimate processor (or a failure propagation path estimate device or an error propagation path estimate processor) 102 which is operated under the control of a program, a storage device 104 for storing information necessary for a failure propagation path estimate process, and an output device 105 which is an interface for a display device, a printer or other external devices.
The storage device 104 is provided with a logic circuit configuration memory unit 141 and a logic state memory unit 142. The logic circuit configuration memory unit 141 already stores connection relationship among gates and signal lines configuring the logic circuit as well as functions of the gates.
The logic state memory unit 142 stores logic states of individual signal lines subjected to the failure propagation path estimate process as well as logic states (expected values) of the individual signal lines when the circuit is in a normal state.
The failure propagation path estimate device 102 is provided with a failure terminal searching unit 121, a sub-circuit extracting unit 122, a sub-circuit logic state estimating unit 123, a logic state registering unit 124, a failure candidate searching unit 125 and a failure candidate outputting unit 126.
The failure terminal searching unit 121 searches for a failure output terminal by referring to the circuit configuration stored in the logic circuit configuration memory unit 141 and the logic states stored in the logic state memory unit 142. When there is no search target, the failure propagation path estimate process is terminated.
The sub-circuit extracting unit 122 extracts a sub-circuit relating to the failure output terminal searched by the failure terminal searching unit 121 by referring to the circuit configuration stored in the logic circuit configuration memory unit 141.
The sub-circuit logic state estimating unit 123 estimates failure propagation paths within the sub-circuit by referring to the circuit configuration stored in the logic circuit configuration memory unit 141 and the logic states of the boundary of the sub-circuit stored in the logic state memory unit 142.
The logic state registering unit 124 registers the logic states of the sub-circuit estimated by the sub-circuit logic state estimating unit 123 in the logic state memory unit 142.
The failure candidate searching unit 125 searches for, as failure candidates, all nodes (gates, signal lines) on the failure propagation paths which may be propagating a failure state to the failure output, by referring to the failure propagation paths in the sub-circuit estimated by the sub-circuit logic state estimating unit 123.
The failure candidate outputting unit 126 outputs the failure candidates searched by the failure candidate searching unit 125 to the output device 5.
FIG. 11 is an exemplary flowchart of the operation of the system shown in FIG. 10.
The operation according to the conventional technique will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
First, the failure terminal searching unit 121 searches for a failure output terminal by referring to the circuit configuration stored in the logic circuit configuration memory unit 141 and the logic states stored in the logic state memory unit 142 (Step A101).
When any search target, i.e., any failure output terminal, is detected, the operation proceeds to Step A103. When no search target is found, the failure propagation path estimate process is terminated (Step A102).
Then, the sub-circuit extracting unit 122 extracts a sub-circuit relating to the failure output terminal searched by the failure terminal searching unit 121 by referring to the circuit configuration stored in the logic circuit configuration memory unit 141 (Step A103). Extraction of the sub-circuit may be carried out by tracing the circuit for a few times in input/output directions or by utilizing the hierarchical design of the circuit as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-062494.
Next, the sub-circuit logic state estimating unit 123 estimates failure propagation paths in the sub-circuit by referring to the circuit configuration stored in the logic circuit configuration memory unit 141 as well as the logic states of the boundary of the sub-circuit stored in the logic state memory unit 142 (Step A104).
Then, the logic state registering unit 124 registers the logic states of the sub-circuit estimated in Step A104 in the logic state memory unit 142 (Step A105).
In Step A106, the failure candidate searching unit 125 searches for, as failure candidates, all nodes (gates, signal lines) on the failure propagation paths which may propagate a failure state to the failure output, by referring to the failure propagation paths in the sub-circuit estimated by the sub-circuit logic state estimating unit 123.
The failure candidate outputting unit 126 outputs the failure candidates searched by the failure candidate searching unit 125 to the output device 105 (Step A107).
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing examples of implication operations for 2-input NAND gates in input/output directions.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing examples of expected values of input/output terminals and logic values of the output signals.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an exemplary decision tree for determining logic states.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing exemplary results of the decision tree.
The flow of operation according to the conventional technique will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11.
Assume that expected values of the input/output terminals as well as logic values of the output signals (L22=1, L23=1) of target gates are given at an initial state. Then, as can be appreciated from the figure, L23 is the failure output.
The initial state and the expected values of the input/output terminals and the signal lines are as follows: L1=X[1], L2=X[1], L3=X[1], L6=X[1], L7=X[1], L22=1[1] and L23 =1 [0] (numbers in brackets represent the expected values).
In Step A101, the failure terminal searching unit 121 searches the logic circuit for a failure output terminal, whereby L23 is found as the failure terminal.
Since an unprocessed failure terminal is detected, the operation proceeds to Step A103 (Step A102).
In Step A103, a sub-circuit relating to L23 is extracted by the sub-circuit extracting unit 122. Herein, the whole circuit is extracted.
Next, in Step A104, logic states in the sub-circuit are estimated by the sub-circuit logic state estimating unit 123.
Since there is no signal line state implicated by L22=1 and L23=1, signal lines whose logic values are to be assumed are searched. According to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-153646, logic values are assumed for input signal lines of gates which are connected to the failure signal line and whose states have not been confirmed (unconfirmed gate).
Referring to FIG. 6 which shows implication operations for the 2-input NAND gates in input/output directions, when the logic value of an output signal line is [1], either one of the logic values [X] of input signal lines should be [0]. When both of the logic values of the input signal lines are not yet confirmed, the gate is judged as an unconfirmed gate. Here, L16, one of the input signal lines of the gate G23 connected to the failure signal line L23 is assumed to have a logic value [0]. If L16=0, then L2=1 and L11=1 are implicated according to the implication operation for G16.
Thereafter, the implication operation and logic assumption are repeated by assuming logic values for two signal lines, thereby determining three sets of logic states as represented by the decision tree shown in FIG. 8. The determined logic states in the circuit are expressed by logic values of individual signal lines in the order of (L1, L2, L3, L6, L7, L10, L11, L16, L19, L22, L23) within the blocks in FIG. 8. The underlines represent failure propagation paths which differ from the expected values.
Then, in Step A105, the determined logic states in the logic circuit as well as the failure propagation paths are registered in the logic state memory unit 142.
Again, any failure terminal is searched for by the failure terminal searching unit 121 (Step A101). Since there is no unprocessed failure terminal, the operation proceeds to Step A106 (Step A102).
In Step A106, failure candidates on the failure propagation paths are searched for. At this point, three sets of states have been determined. As the failure candidates, {L3, L11, L16, L23} are obtained from a set of states for case1=(X10XX110X11), {L6, L11, L16, L23} are obtained from a set of states for case2=(X110XX10X11), and {L6, L11, L16, L23} are obtained from a set of states for case3=(10101011011). Although L10 is estimated to differ from the expected value, it is neglected since a failure occurring at L10 would not affect L23. L2 in case3 is also neglected for not affecting L23.
These failure candidates are output in Step A107.
Next, a case is assumed where [0] is obtained as a logic state of L11 by measurement of the LSI. According to the conventional technique, the states in the circuit have to be estimated from the failure output terminal again.
L16, one of the input signal lines of the gate G23 connected to the failure signal line L23 is assumed to have a logic value of [0]. If L16=0, then L2=1 and L11=1 are implicated according to the implication operation for G16. However, since an actual measurement value of L11 is obtained as 0, path tracing for L16 ends here.
Next, if L16=1 is assumed, then L10=0 for G22, L19=0 for G23, and L7=1 and L11=1 for G19 are implicated. Since an actual measurement value of L11 is obtained as 0, the estimate process ends due to logic contradiction. Accordingly, a decision tree shown in FIG. 9 is obtained.
Consequently, two sets of logic states are determined. As failure candidates, {L16, L23} are determined from a set of states (XXXXXX00X11) and {L19, L23} are determined from a set of states (XXXXX001011). These failure candidates are output in Step A107.
Next, a case is assumed where [1] is obtained as a logic state of L11 by measurement of the LSI. According to the conventional technique, the states in the circuit have to be estimated from the failure output terminal again.
L16, one of the input signal lines of the gate G23 connected to the failure signal line L23 is assumed to have a logic value of [0]. If L16=0, then L2=1 and L11=1 are implicated according to the implication operation for G16. Since an actual measurement value of L11 is obtained as 1, no contradiction occurs.
By repeating the logic assumption and the implication operation to carry on the estimate process, a decision tree identical to that shown in FIG. 8 is obtained where three sets of logic states are determined. As failure candidates, {L3, L11, L16, L23} are determined from a set of states (X10XX110X11), {L6, L11, L16, L23} are determined from a set of states (X110XX10X11), and {L6, L11, L19, L23} are determined from a set of states (10101011011).
These failure candidates are output in Step A107.
According to the conventional technique, the failure location estimate process has to be repeated from the beginning, meaning that information of a measurement point cannot be fed back to the results of the failure location estimate process. Therefore, the process needs to undergo the same calculation without utilizing the results from the previous estimate process. As a result, the circuit becomes large-scale, and calculation will be enormous when the measurement point is distant from the failure output terminal and deep inside the circuit.
The conventional technique has the following problems.
A first problem is that the failure location estimate process needs to be carried out from the beginning whenever a measurement result is obtained. This is because there is no means for performing the estimate process while adding information of the measurement results to the already estimated results.
A second problem is that the process of re-calculation based on the measurement results takes long time in a large-scale circuit. This is because there is no means for re-calculating only the part relating to the measurement point.
As described above for the operation according to the conventional technique, when information of measurement points is fed back to the results of the failure location estimate process, the failure location estimate process has to be repeated from the beginning. Therefore, the process needs to undergo the same calculation without utilizing the results from the previous estimate process. As a result, the circuit becomes large, and calculation will be enormous when the measurement point is distant from the failure output terminal and deep inside the circuit.

Failure propagation path estimate system

Abstract: As shown in FIG. 1, the failure propagation path estimate system according to the present embodiment is generally provided with an input device 1 such as a keyboard or an interface for external devices, a failure propagation path estimate processor (failure propagation path estimate device, error propagation path estimate processor) 2 operated under the control of a program, a storage device 4 for storing information necessary for the failure propagation path estimate process, and an output device 5 such as a display device, a printer or an interface for external devices.


The present invention is directed to a shared electrode pattern field effect touch sensor apparatus. The apparatus includes first and second spaced electrode patterns, each having an inner electrode and an outer electrode. The inner electrode includes a primary portion defining a primary sense area and at least one secondary portion. Secondary portions of at least two patterns are adjacently disposed, and define secondary sense areas. A pulse generation circuit and a detection circuit are electrically coupled to each pattern. The presence of an object proximate a primary sense area activates one detection circuit. The presence of an object proximate a secondary sense area activates two detection circuits. A controller in communication with the detection circuits senses activation of the detection circuits. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is a navigational control device. A method of processing touch sensor field effect signals is also disclosed.

Navigational control devices, such as joysticks for use with computer software, are known in the art. Conventional joysticks may include a housing with a user-positioned actuator handle pivoted about a fixed point to actuate electromechanical switches that generate X- and Y-axis data. In some joysticks, springs may be employed to return the actuator handle to a centered position. Such conventional joysticks typically require some type of opening in the housing through which the actuator handle extends. The opening, as well as openings in the switch itself, can allow dirt, water and other contaminants to enter the housing and become trapped within the switch. Certain environments contain a large volume of contaminants that can pass through the openings, causing electrical shorting or damage to the components. Further, electromechanical switches are subject to wear, mechanical failure, and slow reaction time due to their very nature as mechanical devices having moving parts.
Various alternatives to mechanical switches are known in the art, such as optical encoders, switch arrays, piezo-electric transducers, inductive coupling devices, and magnetic devices. However, the incorporation of such components in a joystick has not proven cost effective for consumer-oriented data input applications. Furthermore, they may unduly restrict actuator motion, thereby degrading user "feel."
Field effect touch sensors have proven particular advantageous for many applications. Such field effect touch sensors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,222 to Caldwell; U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,611 to Caldwell; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,282 to Caldwell, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. However, known touch sensors use one electrode pattern per sense point. Further, the field effect sensors disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,282 also require one integrated control circuit per electrode pattern and, therefore, one integrated control circuit per sense point. As such, these designs may not be cost effective or practical for use with some devices requiring numerous sense points, such as navigational control devices or slide control devices.
There is a need for an apparatus that reduces the number of electrode patterns and integrated control circuits in field effect sensor applications, thereby reducing component cost and manufacturing cost, and improving reliability.

Shared electrode pattern field effect sensor and joystick therewith


A bus driver circuit for a multiplex communications system is configured from a limited number of components to withstand short circuiting of a connected bus circuit to voltage levels from ground potential to double conventional voltage levels encountered within a motor vehicle, i.e. twenty four (24) volts. The bus driver circuit does not interfere with bus operation if local power or ground is lost by one or more system node including the circuit, and can operate at relatively high frequencies, for example of approximately 83.3 to 166.7 kilobits per second (KBPS). Each line of a two-line bus is driven by a transistor whose current flow is limited by emitter degeneration and, in the case of the transistor which sinks current from the bus, a separate current control transistor which monitors current flow through its associated bus driver transistor and reduces its base drive at high temperatures to limit current flow therethrough and compensate the circuit for temperature variations. The turn-on and turn-off edges of bus driver signals are rounded by capacitors connected across the collector-base junctions of the bus driver transistors.

The present invention relates generally to multiplex communications systems used, for example, for motor vehicles and, more particularly, to driver circuits for connecting individual nodes of a multiplex communications system with a two wire, preferably twisted pair, communications bus which interconnects nodes of the system.
The use of multiplex communications systems in motor vehicles has been known for some time to reduce the large number of wires which are used within vehicles. In addition, such multiplex systems benefit the design, assembly and diagnostics of motor vehicles. A common component of multiplex systems is a bus circuit which interconnects nodes of a given system. Since a bus circuit typically extends throughout a motor vehicle, it can reach a substantial length and, accordingly, multiplex system buses are preferably constructed as simply as possible to reduce the costs of the multiplex system. One popular bus circuit is constructed using a twisted pair of wires which are terminated at least at one point to ground for one wire and to system signal potential for the other wire.
In the past, driver circuits for connecting individual nodes of a motor vehicle multiplex communications system to a bus circuit have been problematic. Known bus drivers often include a substantial number of components and hence can be costly and occupy a substantial amount of space. In addition, reliability has plagued some bus drivers. For example, multiplex communications systems should not be disabled if a single node loses its power or ground, the bus or one side of the bus is shorted to power or ground, or the bus or one side of the bus is shorted to reverse power. Many known bus drivers cannot survive such mishaps. In the motor vehicle environment, it is even possible for a bus driver to be subjected to double battery voltage or reversed double battery voltage by attempts to jump-start the vehicle.
Accordingly, there is a need for a low cost bus driver circuit which can reliably drive a bus circuit of a multiplex communications system of a motor vehicle. The bus driver circuit should preclude interference with other nodes communicating over the bus in the event one or more nodes each including the bus driver circuit are disabled by loss of power or ground. Preferably, such a bus driver circuit would be able to withstand bus shorts to ground, bus shorts to vehicle power, or even bus shorts to direct or reversed double vehicle power without sustaining damage.

Driver for bus circuit of motor vehicle multiplex communications system


Provided is a method, system, and program for processing Input/Output (I/O) requests to a storage network including at least one storage device and at least two adaptors, wherein each adaptor is capable of communicating I/O requests to the at least one storage device. An error is detected in a system including a first adaptor, wherein the first adaptor is capable of communicating on the network after the error is detected. In response to detecting the error, a master switch timer is started that is less than a system timeout period if the first adaptor is the master. An error recovery procedure in the system including the first adaptor would be initiated after the system timeout period has expired. An operation is initiated to designate another adaptor in the storage network as the master if the first adaptor is the master in response to detecting an expiration of the master switch timer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system, method, and program for error handling in a dual adaptor system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a storage loop architecture, such as the Serial Storage Architecture (SSA), a plurality of disks are interconnected to one or more adaptors so that either of the adaptors can access the one or more loops of interconnected disks. An adaptor may include two or more ports to allow connection to one or more loops. For each loop on which the adaptor communicates, one adaptor port connects to a first disk in the loop and the other port connects to another disk in the loop. Additional adaptors may be added to the loop, such that one port on each other adaptor connects to one disk and another port connects to another disk so that the additional adaptors are placed within the loop. Additional details of the SSA architecture and different possible loop topologies are described in the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) publication "Understanding SSA Subsystems in Your Environment", IBM document No. SG24-5750-00 (April, 2000), which publication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
One or more computer systems, such as storage subsystems, host system, etc., may include the adaptors connecting to the loop. Adaptors that share a loop must intercommunicate to coordinate accesses to disks in the shared loop. High end storage systems, such as the IBM Enterprise Storage Server (ESS), can detect errors in the ability of an adaptor in another system to communicate with the local operating system even though such detected adaptor is still capable of communicating on the network. In such instances, the system detecting the problem will delay I/O processing for a timeout period that corresponds to the time required for the other system including the adaptor to initiate an error recovery procedure. This timeout period must take into account all different timeout periods and error recovery procedures that could occur within the detected system unable to communicate with the adaptor. In many cases the timeout period can extend for several minutes.
In storage systems requiring high availability, such as storage systems for critical uses, any delays in I/O processing are generally unacceptable. Thus, extensive delays in I/O processing, such as a delay resulting from the lengthy timeout period for the error recovery process at the detected system, would be unacceptable in a high availability system.
In addition to delays that may result from having to wait for the system housing the other adaptor to reset, additional delays may be incurred when a master adaptor is subject to the reset. The master adaptor, which is the configurator with the highest unique identifier (ID), is responsible for configuring each port in the network with various parameters and coordinating the processing of asynchronous events such as dynamic changes in the network configuration. If a master adaptor is reset, then in the SSA architecture, the adaptor having the next highest unique identifier will be designated as the master. Following reassignment of the master node, each remaining adapter on the loop adjusts internal routing algorithms under direction from the new master initiator, so that frames are automatically rerouted to avoid the break. This allows devices to be removed or added to the loop while the subsystem continues to operate without interruption.
Upon resetting an adaptor, the system will experience a brief I/O delay to coordinate the reset adaptor entering a disabled state. If a slave is reset, then the I/O delay may only be a few seconds. However, if the master is reset, then the I/O delay may double to 8 to 16 seconds due to the additional time needed to switch the master to another adaptor.
For these reasons there is a need in the art to provide improved error handling that reduces timeout delays in systems where two adaptors are capable of accessing the storage devices and reduces delays associated with resetting the master adaptor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method, system, and program for error handling in a dual adaptor system where one adaptor is a master


Provided is a hetero-substrate that may include a base substrate, a buffer layer disposed on the base substrate, and a first semiconductor layer disposed on the buffer layer, the first semiconductor layer including a nitride semiconductor. A defect blocking layer is disposed on the first semiconductor layer. The defect blocking layer may include a plurality of metal droplets. A second semiconductor layer may be disposed on the defect blocking layer, the second semiconductor layer including a nitride semiconductor.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a nitride semiconductor, and more specifically, to a substrate having a hetero-structure (hereinafter, referred to simply as a "hetero-substrate"), a method for manufacturing the same, and a nitride semiconductor light emitting device using the same.
2. Background
A light emitting device represented by a light emitting diode (LED) provides various colors through a p-n junction diode which converts electrical energy into light energy by controlling a compositional ratio of a compound semiconductor produced using a compound of Group III and V elements on the periodic table.
Nitride semiconductors have attracted much attention in the field of development of optical devices and high-power electronic elements due to high thermal stability and wide band-gap energy thereof. In particular, blue light emitting devices, green light emitting devices, UV light emitting devices and the like using nitride semiconductors are commercialized and have entered widespread use.
The light emitting device using such a nitride semiconductor may be implemented on a hetero-substrate made of materials such as sapphire or silicon carbide (SiC). As such, when nitride semiconductor thin films having a hetero-junction are grown using a sapphire substrate or other hetero-substrates or the like, differences in lattice mismatch and coefficient of thermal expansion caused by the hetero-junction may cause high crystal defects and high strain in thin films.
Regarding the nitride semiconductor thin films grown on a sapphire substrate, development of low-temperature gallium nitride (GaN) and low-temperature aluminum nitride (AlN) buffers and the like have been investigated in order to reduce dislocation generated on the substrate, such that defect density is reduced to some extent. However, the nitride semiconductor thin films still have a high defect density of about 108 cm−2.
In addition, when a hetero-junction is formed on a silicon (Si) substrate, dislocation density may still be high in spite of applying various thin film growth methods. In particular, in the process of cooling gallium nitride semiconductors grown at a high temperature to room temperature, there are problems associated with tensile strain applied to the thin film due to differences in coefficient of thermal expansion between the thin film and the Si substrate.
Meanwhile, although growth of nitride semiconductor thin films using a GaN substrate may be the most superior growth method developed to date, production methods of GaN substrates have technical problems hindering commercialization, and entail a cost several tens to several hundreds times the cost of hetero-substrates, such as sapphire or Si, in terms of economical efficiency, thus restricting widespread use of GaN as a substrate.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Substrate having hetero-structure, method for manufacturing the same and nitride semiconductor light emitting device using the same


A cooling system for cooling a temperature-dependent power device includes an active cooling device and a controller to generate and transmit a drive signal thereto to selectively activate the device. The controller receives an input from sensors regarding the cooling device power consumption and measured operational parameters of the power equipment—including the power device output power if the device is a power producing device or the power device input power if the device is a power consuming device. The controller generates and transmits a drive signal to the cooling device based on the cooling device power consumption and the measured power device input or output power in order to cause the active cooling device to selectively cool the heat producing power device. A net system power output or total system power input can be maximized/minimized by controlling an amount of convection cooling provided by the cooling device.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to a temperature-dependent power producing and power consuming devices and, more particularly, to a system and method for providing controlled cooling to such devices to maximize a power output or minimize a power consumption by such devices.
It is well known that effective cooling of certain temperature-dependent power producing and power consuming electrical devices is an essential component regarding the operation and performance of such devices, as effective cooling can prolong the lifetime of such devices and can lead to performance efficiency gains for such devices. For example, with respect to the operation of such temperature-dependent electrical devices, proper cooling of the devices can maximize a power output of power producing devices or minimize a power consumption of power consuming devices.
One example of a temperature-dependent power producing device whose performance can be maximized by proper temperature control is a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel. PV panels are semiconductor-based energy conversion devices that convert energy in the form of photons to electricity in the form of electrons. It is known that the performance of a solar PV panel degrades with increased temperature and that the efficiency of a solar PV panel is a linear function of panel temperature—i.e., the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the PV panel that is converted to DC electricity is temperature dependent, with the fraction of radiation converted to DC electricity being the efficiency of the PV panel. The temperature-dependent efficiency of PV panels can be problematic—as typical solar PV panels are on the order of 10-20% efficient at converting the incident solar radiation to electricity, with the remaining energy absorbed by the solar PV panels that is not converted to electricity acting to heat the device. This energy must thus be removed from the PV panels in order to maintain a desired efficiency, as otherwise it would remain in the device resulting in an increase in temperature.
One example of temperature-dependent power consuming devices whose performance can be maximized by proper temperature control is integrated circuits (ICs) or processing devices employed in telecom equipment. In such devices, it is recognized that heat emission and temperature control of the devices is highly correlated to power consumption as well as to the devices' reliability. As one example, it is known that the leakage current in CMOS based FPGAs (which are commonly used in telecommunications equipment) increases with temperature since a positive feedback loop exists between leakage power and temperature.
In addressing the issue of temperature control in temperature-dependent power producing and power consuming devices, cooling systems can be employed for providing cooling to the devices that utilize either passive cooling or active cooling. Prior art cooling systems that utilize passive cooling approaches have previously used a natural convection cooled heat sink attached to the device (e.g., heatsink on the backside of a PV panel). However, while such passive convection cooling may provide some control over the operating temperature of the device, these passive cooling systems are limited with respect to the level of cooling they can provide, thus also inherently placing limits on the performance of the temperature-dependent power producing and/or power consuming device. Prior art cooling systems that utilize active cooling approaches have previously used, for example, mechanisms such as a fan to provide forced air convection or an active liquid cooling device where a liquid such as water or water-based fluid is circulated to remove heat from the electrical device. However, existing active cooling approaches can be high cost, prone to failure (due to rotating parts, bearings, or grease that may fail/wear away), or consume significant amounts of power themselves—such that benefits of the active cooling device is minimized.
Accordingly, there is a need for a simplified system and method for providing cooling to temperature-dependent power producing and power consuming devices, with the system and method providing controlled cooling to maximize a power output or minimize a power consumption by such devices. It would further be desirable for such a system and method to provide such cooling in an efficient matter, with the cooling system consuming small amounts of power and being resistive to failure, so as to provide inexpensive and reliable cooling.

System and method for enhanced convection cooling of temperature-dependent power producing and power consuming electrical devices


To protect a joint from exposure to contaminants and loss of lubricant disposed within a joint a traditional joint includes a sealing system. Typically the sealing system includes a boot and a boot cover. To produce a more effective joint, the sealing system of the present invention further includes a shield to protect the boot and the boot cover from exposure to contaminants by providing a barrier therebetween. The joint of the present invention includes a shield having several embodiments including an elastomer sleeve, a rigid cylindrical tube and a thermoplastic second boot.

Joints are common components in today's automotive vehicles. Typically, joints are used for transmission of a rotating motion. When transmission of a rotating motion is desired at a generally constant velocity a constant velocity joint (CVJ) is utilized. Various styles of constant velocity joints are common and include ball-type fixed joints, tripod fixed joints, plunging ball joints, and the like. The various styles of joints are currently used in front-wheel drive vehicles, rear-wheel drive vehicles and on propeller shafts (propshafts) found in rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles. The constant velocity joints are generally grease lubricated for life and sealed by a sealing system when used on propshafts. Therefore, constant velocity joints are sealed in order to retain grease inside the joint while keeping contaminants and foreign matter, such as dirt, water, and the like out of the joint. To achieve this protection the constant velocity joint usually includes a sealing system. The CVJ is usually enclosed at an open end of an outer race by a sealing boot and boot cover made of a rubber, thermoplastic, silicone type material, and the like. The opposite end of the outer race is generally enclosed by a dome or cap, commonly known as a grease cap. A monoblock or integral stem and race style joint is sealed at the opposite end by the internal geometry of the outer race. This sealing and protection of the constant velocity joint is necessary because contamination of the inner chamber of the joint generally will cause internal damage and destruction of the joint. Furthermore, once the inner chamber of the joint is partially filled and thus lubricated, it is generally lubricated for life.
A main function of a CVJ is the transmission of rotational forces. During operation, the constant velocity joint transmits torque. The torque transfer generates heat by the internal friction of the joint along with other transmission inefficiencies. Generally, as the speed and torque increase, the heat generation of the constant velocity joint also increases. A further effect of increased speeds is that the velocity of the grease increases because the internal action of the joint acts like a pump to causes the grease to be pumped out of the joint and into the sealing system. This phenomenon increases pressure on the sealing system. The high internal temperatures in the constant velocity joint also affect the lubricant grease, which is in contact with the sealing system. With higher temperatures the boot and boot cover of the sealing system become more vulnerable to cracking and rupture and the durability of the constant velocity joint that is generally sealed for life is reduced. Furthermore, heat that is generated within the sealing system is transferred to the outer race of the CVJ. As a result, premature cracks, ruptures and blowouts of the sealing system further reduce the life of the boot. With the heat affecting the life and material of the sealing system, the boot and boot cover are also more vulnerable to external damage due to strikes or blows by contaminants from the environment of the automotive vehicle. These contaminants can be anything from rocks, mud, road debris, or any other object capable of being thrown by the tires or deflected into the boot or boot cover of the sealing system of the constant velocity joint. These contaminants striking the boot will further reduce the sealability of the boot and boot cover while increasing the possibility of ruptures, blowouts, and the like. Accordingly, life of the constant velocity joint is ultimately reduced.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a joint having a sealing system that is protected from contact with foreign objects found in the outside environment of the joint. The ability to protect the sealing system from external objects will reduce early deterioration of the boot and boot cover that may result in eventual failure of the sealing system and ultimate failure of the joint.

Shielded sealing system for a constant velocity joint


A method for media rate control in a video encoding system disclosed. In one embodiment, an optimal remaining one of the three parameter sets (Sk) is computed based on the provided user configuration inputs of two parameters sets (Si, Sj), wherein the user configuration inputs comprise two parameter sets (Si and Sj) out of three parameter sets (Si, Sj, and Sk), wherein the three parameter sets are latency parameter set, channel bandwidth parameter set, and video quality parameter set. The video encoding system is then configured based on the provided two parameter sets (Si, Sj) and the computed parameter set (Sk) to obtain a desired media rate control having optimal performance.

Typically, data transfer limitations for a physical interface, such as USB, SDIO, PCI, TSIF and the like or a packet network interface, such as Ethernet often require that the video traffic on these channels is rate controlled, i.e., is regulated, such that it is rate controlled. Rate control refers to adhering to a pre-defined characteristic of data transfer over a channel based on average and peak data rate constraints. In cases where these channels are being used by more than one user, it is even more important to shape the video traffic in a manner that is conducive to the shared channel usage. The basic media pipeline for streaming or recording channels includes video capture, video pre-processing, video encoding and formatting (example: header addition, packetization, file format creation) based on destination. Further, user experience in video streaming and recording applications can be identified based on encoder and system performance in terms of parameters, such as perceived quality, required channel bandwidth, and achieved latency. However, in many systems, the expectations of performance on these three vectors may be mutually conflicting. For example, a marginal deviation in peak bandwidth of encoded data or increased system latency may result in degradation of the user experience due to effects like packet drops or late arrival of video frames at the destination.
In a simple rate control algorithm, the video encoder can allocate a fixed number of bytes for each frame (given by bandwidth*latency/frames per latency duration) to achieve the constraints of bandwidth and latency. However, allocating the same number of bytes for every frame may not be optimal in terms of quality.
In another existing implementation, large frames may be generated by the video encoder for achieving a higher quality. However, the time required to send this large encoded frame while adhering to a constrained bandwidth may be high and hence the latency requirement may be compromised. Alternatively, the system may burst the encoded frames onto network to achieve low latency. However, in this case, the channel bandwidth constraints may be violated.
In a trade-off across these three mutually conflicting performance requirements, it is often possible to fix two of the performance requirements and achieve the best possible performance for the third requirement. Marginal degradation in video encode bit rate is not often perceivable; however, not meeting the latency or channel bandwidth requirements may result in severe user inconvenience. Hence, in a case requiring all three performance requirements, latency and channel bandwidth requirements can be strictly met trying to achieve the best possible quality.
Typical video encode processing module takes parameters like average encode bit rate, VBV buffer size and key frame interval. These parameters have to be derived based on the three performance requirements.
Because of the latency incurred for transmission, there is a need for buffering in the system. Hence, system management parameters like buffering requirements and drain rate have to be identified based on the three performance requirements. However, these system management parameters are applicable for the entire video encode pipeline.
The systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follow.

Method for media rate control in a video encoding system


The semiconductor package includes a substrate, a plurality of components, an interposer, an electrical interconnect and a first package body. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first component is mounted on the first surface of the substrate, and a second component is mounted on the second surface of the substrate. The interposer has a first surface. The electrical interconnect connects the first surface of the interposer to the second surface of the substrate. The first package body is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and encapsulates the second component, the electrical interconnect and at least a portion of the interposer.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor package structure and a semiconductor process, and more particularly to a double-sided semiconductor package structure and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices have become progressively more complex, driven at least in part by the demand for smaller sizes and enhanced processing speeds. At the same time, there is a demand to further miniaturize many electronic products containing these semiconductor devices. Semiconductor devices are typically packaged, and then may be installed on a substrate that includes electrical circuitry, such as a circuit board. This results in space being occupied by both the semiconductor device package and the substrate, with a surface area on the substrate being occupied by the semiconductor device package. Additional costs may be incurred by performing packaging, board manufacturing, and assembly as separate processes.
Therefore, it would be desirable to reduce the space occupied by a semiconductor device on a substrate, and to simplify and combine the packaging, board manufacturing, and assembly processes as applied to the semiconductor device and the substrate.
Moreover, a radio-emission device, such as a radio frequency (RF) device, may adversely affect the operation of a semiconductor device, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) may easily occur. EMI may interrupt, obstruct, or otherwise degrade or limit the effective performance of a circuit.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop a semiconductor package structure to solve the aforesaid problems.

Semiconductor package structure and semiconductor process

ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.


A hydrogen generating device includes a first housing, a porous structure, a first flow-guiding structure and a heating unit. The first housing accommodates a solid reactant. The porous structure is disposed in the first housing. The first flow-guiding structure has first and second end portions opposite to each other. The first end portion is connected to the porous structure. The second end portion protrudes outside the first housing and is connected to the heating unit. A liquid reactant passing through the second end portion is gasified into a gaseous reactant through the heating unit. The gaseous reactant passing through the first end portion reaches to the porous structure and then is diffused from the porous structure into the first housing, so that the gaseous reactant and the solid reactant react and generate a hydrogen gas. A power generating equipment including the hydrogen generating device is also provided.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to a hydrogen generating device and a power generating equipment, and more particularly to a hydrogen generating device and a power generating equipment having a heating unit.
2. Description of Related Art
Fuel cell modules are power generating equipment in which chemical energy is used and directly transformed into electrical energy. Taking a proton exchanging membrane fuel cell as an example, the operating principle is that the hydrogen gas is subjected to an oxidation reaction at the anode catalyst layer, and hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons (e−) are generated, or methanol and water are subjected to an oxidation reaction at the anode catalyst layer, and hydrogen ions (H+), carbon dioxide (CO2) and electrons (e−) are generated, the hydrogen ions may be transported to the cathode through the proton conducting membrane, while the electrons can be transported to the cathode after the electrons flowing through an external circuit are applied to a load to work. Here, reduction reaction between the oxygen supplied to the cathode and the hydrogen ions and the electrons occurs at a cathode catalyst layer, and thereby water is produced. The fuel hydrogen gas needed by the anode may be obtained by solid NaBH4 generating hydrogen technology in which liquid water is added to solid NaBH4 to perform a chemical reaction for generating a hydrogen gas.
In general, the solid NaBH4 is placed in a reacting tank and the liquid water is guided into the reacting tank for reacting with the solid NaBH4 to generate a hydrogen gas. However, a slurry-shaped mixture is easy to be formed after the liquid water and the solid NaBH4 are mixed under the room temperature, it may cause the diffusion of the liquid water inferior, and the non-reacted solid NaBH4 cannot be quickly contacted with the liquid water, resulting an incomplete reaction. Therefore, in order to enhance the reacting rate of the liquid water and the solid NaBH4, a hydrophilic material is needed to be added into the reacting tank, or by way of channels design to guide more water flowing thereto, the water is guided into the reacting tank from a plurality of places, as such this way may increase the generating cost of the power generating equipment. In addition, the hydrophilic material may generally include ammonia, and the ammonia may cause the fuel cell stack rapidly failed, thus the filtering apparatus disposed between the fuel cell stack and the reacting tank has to effectively filter out the ammonia, and the load of filtering apparatus is increased. Moreover, since the diffusion of the liquid water is inferior and easy to cause some portion of the solid NaBH4 unable to react with the liquid water, in order to solve this problem, an amount of liquid water that is much more than required amount for actual reaction has to be provided. However, the too much amount of liquid water may increase the possibility of leakage of the power generating equipment, and the liquid water which remains in the reacting tank may gradually react with the remained solid NaBH4 and hydrogen gas may remain in the reacting tank, thus it may further affects the safety thereof. Furthermore, all of the hydrophilic material, guiding the water into the reacting tank from several places, and providing an amount of liquid water that is much more than a required amount for actual reaction may cause the whole structural volume and weight increased, the disposing space of the solid NaBH4 is restricted, as such, the energy density of power generating equipment may be substantially decreased.
The Chinese Patent Reference CN100396596C discloses a hydrogen generating device which uses capillary materials for guiding the fluid onto the solid hydride. The Chinese Patent Reference CN1319849C discloses a power generating device, wherein the water steam generated by the water steam generating device is provided to the hydrogen generating device to react and generate the hydrogen gas, the water steam generating device uses porous structures such as cotton fibers or polymeric fibers as a barrier so as to prevent the liquid leakage, and the water steam may enter and exit the water steam generating device through the porous structures.
The information disclosed in this "Description of Related Art" section is only for enhancement understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, the information disclosed in this "Description of Related Art" section does not mean that one or more problems to be solved by one or more embodiments of the invention was acknowledged by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Hydrogen generating device and power generating equipment


A position controlling device for a carpenter angle drill/hollow chisel mortiser has a mounting group, a positioning group, and a retaining arm. The mounting group has two crossbars and a bridge bar. The bridge bar is connected to the crossbars. The positioning group is connected to the mounting group, and has two limiting blocks, a holding frame, and a circuit breaker. The limiting blocks are connected to the bridge bar between the crossbars. The holding frame is securely connected to one of the limiting blocks. The circuit breaker is mounted in the holding frame and has a contacting slice and an electric wire. The contacting slice is elastically connected to the circuit breaker, and transversally extends out of the holding frame. The retaining arm selectively abuts the contacting slice of the circuit breaker to enable the circuit breaker at a turn-off condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a position controlling device, and more particularly to a position controlling device for a carpenter angle drill/hollow chisel mortiser that can automatically stop an actuation of the carpenter angle drill when a moving base of the carpenter angle drill moves to a top dead center of the carpenter angle drill.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional carpenter angle drill/hollow chisel mortiser is used to drill holes in a working piece, and has a base, a mounting stud, a moving head, a drill seat, a motor, an operating lever, and a position controlling device. The mounting stud is securely mounted on the base. The moving head is slidably mounted on a front side of the mounting stud above the base. The drill seat is securely mounted on a bottom of the moving head and has a drill. The motor is mounted on the moving base to drive the drill to rotate.
The operating lever is connected to the mounting stud to make the moving head slide relative to the mounting stud to enable the drill to move closer to or away from the base to drill the working piece. The position controlling device is mounted between the mounting stud and the moving head to provide a stroke of the drill, and has a bridge bar, two limiting blocks and a retaining arm. The bridge bar is mounted on a sidewall of the mounting stud. The limiting blocks are mounted around the bridge bar at an interval, and the interval may be equal to the stroke of the drill. The retaining arm is securely connected to the moving head, movably extends between the limiting blocks, and selectively abuts the limiting blocks.
In use, a user can adjust the stroke of the drill by changing the interval between the limiting blocks according to a thickness of the working piece. Then, the user rotates the operating lever, the drill is moved downwardly with the moving head to drill the working piece, and the drill is stopped to move downwardly when the retaining arm contacts the lower limiting block. After drilling the working piece, the drill is moved upwardly with the moving head and the operating lever and is stopped from moving upwardly when the retaining arm contacts the upper limiting block. Therefore, the stroke of the drill is limited between the limiting blocks since the retaining arm is moved between the limiting blocks.
However, the drill is driven by the motor, and the motor is actuated during the drill operation including a down stroke and an upstroke of the drill, and this means the drill is still rotated when the retaining arm contacts the upper limiting block. Then, the user or other persons may get injured by the rotating drill when completing the drill operation, and this is unsafe in use and will waste energy. In addition, the limiting blocks are only mounted around the bridge bar, and the retaining arm may hit the limiting blocks during the drilling operation to change the positions of the limiting blocks relative to the bridge bar, and this will change the interval between the limiting blocks. Then, the stroke of the drill will be changed and this will influence the processing quality of the conventional carpenter angle drill/hollow chisel mortiser.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a position controlling device for a carpenter angle drill/hollow chisel mortiser to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Position controlling device for a carpenter angle drill/hollow chisel mortiser