A steel pipe with dual phase structure includes, as chemical composition, by mass %, C: 0.07% to 0.15%, Si: 0.1% to 0.5%, Mn: 0.8% to 1.9%, Nb: 0.020% to 0.10%, P: limited to 0.05% or less, S: limited to 0.01% or less, Al: limited to 0.1% or less, and a balance consisting of iron and unavoidable impurities, wherein, when [X] is amount of element X in mass %, carbon equivalent Ceq defined by Equation of Ceq=[C]+[Mn]/6 is 0.25 to 0.40 and [Nb]×[C]≧0.002 is satisfied, and includes, as metallographic structure, by area %, ferrite of 80% to 98% and martensite, residual austenite, or mixture thereof of 2% to 20% in total, wherein average grain size of ferrite is 1 μm to less than 8 μm and average grain size of martensite, residual austenite, or mixture thereof is 0.1 μm to 2 μm.

In recent years, a technology which is to expand oil country tubular goods by 10% to 30% and is to use in a well is developed, and the technology has greatly contributed to reduction of development costs of an oil well or a gas well. In general, after the steel pipe is expanded to a circumferential direction, collapse pressure decreases because of bauschinger effect. The bauschinger effect is a phenomenon in which, in case that plastic strain is applied by plastic deformation and subsequently stress is applied to a direction opposite to the direction where the plastic strain is applied, yield stress to the direction opposite to the direction where the plastic strain is applied decreases as compared to before the plastic deformation.
For the problem, Patent Documents 1 and 2 suggest the steel pipes which are excellent in collapse properties after pipe-expanding. The steel pipe disclosed in the Patent Document 1 is that microstructure includes a bainite or a bainitic ferrite and the collapse pressure increases by dislocation pinning of solid-soluted C after pipe-expanding. The steel pipe disclosed in the Patent Document 2 is that microstructure consists of a dual phase structure which is the ferrite and a finely dispersed martensite and which suppresses the bauschinger effect.
In addition, when pipe-expanding ratio becomes large, cracks may initiate locally because thickness of the steel pipe may thin locally. For the problem, Patent Document 3 suggests the steel pipe in which microstructure is controlled to a dual phase structure which has a soft phase and a hard phase, because an increase in a work hardening coefficient (n value) is effective.
In the microstructure of the steel pipe disclosed in the Patent Document 3, the soft phase is the ferrite, a tempered martensite, or a tempered bainite, and the hard phase is a martensite-austenite constituent (MA). The MA is obtained by heating the steel pipe to the two phase region and air-cooling.

Oil country tubular goods with dual phase structure and producing method thereof

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION


In a computerized method, performance data collected while a computer system executed instructions of a program are analyzed. The method collects performance data while executing the program. The performance data includes sample counts of instructions executed. The program is analyzed to determine classes of instructions. Instructions of the same equivalence class all execute the identical number of times. The execution frequencies for each instructions of each equivalence class is estimated. The estimated execution frequencies can then be used to determine the average number of cycles required to issue each instruction of each equivalence class. The average number of cycles can be compared with the minimum number of cycles to determine the number of dynamic stall cycles incurred by the instructions. Furthermore, reasons for the dynamic stall cycles can be inferred.

Measuring the performance of an operating computer system is a frequent and extremely important task performed by hardware and software engineers. Hardware engineers need performance data to determine how new computer hardware operates with existing operating systems and application programs. Software engineers need to identify critical portions of operating system, kernel, device driver, and application software programs.
It is a particular problem to measure the performance of modern high-speed pipelined multi-processor system. In a pipelined multi-processor system, multiple instructions may be issued for each processor cycle. A processor cycle is the basic timing interval for processor operations. Barring stalls, instructions advance one stage through the pipeline for each cycle. Then, ideally, the system is operating most efficiently. This means, that at any one time multiple instructions can concurrently be executing in the various pipelines. Generally, the operator code and operands of an instruction determine how many processor cycles are required to completely execute the instruction. However, the operator code does not indicate how many cycles will be required to issue the instruction, this can only be determined dynamically while the instruction is executing.
However, some instructions may interfere with each other. For example, a next load, or conditional branch instruction may require the results of an as yet uncompleted instruction. In other cases, instructions may be waiting for a processor resource such as a particular floating-point arithmetic unit. In these cases, execution of the later instruction is stalled until the other instruction completes or the resource becomes available. While an instruction is stalled, decoding and processing are suspended, and the processor is operating less efficiently. That is, the number of cycles required to complete the execution of an instruction may be greater than ideally determined.
A profiling system can be used to collect performance data on how frequently instructions are executed. Some prior art profiling systems require that source or object programs be modified to insert instructions which can collect the data when the programs are executing. Modifying the programs means that the programs need to be recompiled and/or relinked.
In addition, prior art profiling systems generally only determine the frequency of execution of particular instructions, and not the number of cycles that are required to issue the instructions. In a pipelined multi-processor system, the number of cycles required to issue the various instructions is a significant indicator of the performance of the system.
As a further restriction of some known systems, profiles can only be generated for instructions of an application program. This means that when the application program calls an operating system procedure no performance data on actual instructions executed by the system procedure are collected. Some profiling may measure the amount of time it took to process the system call, and attempt to infer performance data by dividing the time for processing a system call by some "average" execution time of instructions, however nothing concrete is learned about the actual execution of instructions of system procedures.
Therefore, it is desired to profile machine executable programs without having to modify source or object code files so profiled programs do not need to be recompiled or linked. Furthermore it is desired to profile both application and system (kernel) level programs. In addition, it is desired to profile not only the number of times each instructions is executed, but also the average number of stall cycles incurred when each instruction is issued, and the reasons why those stalls occurred.

Computer method and apparatus for analyzing program instructions executing in a computer system


A method (100) is disclosed for producing, using a multi-slot presentation skeleton (400), an image presentation from a set of source images (702). The method comprises establishing a duration of the presentation, an average slot duration, and based upon slot template rules, locations and properties of key slots in the skeleton (400). The method then generates (104) candidate groups of sub-image sets from the set of source images, and selects (106) sub-image sets from the candidate groups for the key slots. The method then fills (108) the non-key slots with sub-image sets from the candidate groups, and processes (110) the sub-image sets in the skeleton slots using effect and transition rules, to thereby form the image presentation.

Digital cameras, video camcorders, and a wide variety of other consumer devices for image capture and storage are widely available to today's consumers. Consumers who are active in the field of image capture generally accumulate growing archives of images, storing these images either on hard drives in their personal computers (PCs) or on other electronic databases which may be accessible over local or wide area networks (LANs, WANs). Consumers, hereinafter referred to as "editors", may often wish to build a series of these stored images into a presentation, either for entertainment or more particularly to deliver a particular visual message. Video effects and transitions can be used to enhance the visual impact of such presentations, however first and foremost, the selection and ordering of the images in the presentation must be done in a manner consistent with the goals of the editor.
Stored images may be related to each other in some fashion, for example, by having been captured sequentially in the course of a particular event such as a birthday party. In this event, the time-sequential relationship between the images can often be used as a basis for selecting and ordering the images in the presentation. If, on the other hand, no such inter-image relationship exists, then effective selection and ordering of images can require technical and artistic skills beyond the reach of the typical editor.
A significant amount of value can be added to raw source image material by performing effective post-processing, and ensuring appropriate arrangement of the post-processed images. Sequential image presentations are capable of delivering a wide variety of visual messages, and these can be enhanced by incorporation of video effects and inter-image transitions to increase the visual impact of the presentation.
The presentation of visual images to an audience is an important component of many industries and activities. Accordingly, significant demands are placed upon an "editor" (being a person performing an editing function) of the raw source material, requiring him or her to employ techniques other than mere sequencing of images along a time-line. In order to ensure an effective outcome, it is necessary to select and arrange, in the final production, different types of image from a source image set, and to effectively use video effects and image sequencing techniques.
Professionals who produce image presentations make use of techniques and approaches that are typically complex, and that require a deal of technical, and artistic expertise and experience. This poses a problem for ordinary users of image capture devices and Personal Computers (PCs) who might wish, as editors, to compose image presentations that are pleasing to an audience. Such editors generally do not have the requisite experience and expertise of the professionals in the field, and it is extremely difficult for them to compile effective presentations from the raw source images. The availability of computer-aided image and video editing software provides some assistance to such editors, however significant investment of time and effort is required to use even these tools effectively.

Method of automatic production of image presentations


System and method for seamless roaming over scalable wide area Wireless LAN networks (WAWLAN) with clientless mobile subscribers. A preferred embodiment comprises a wireless gateway (WG) coupled to one or more access points in a wireless network to form a wireless cluster (WC), a network access gateway (NAG) coupled to a wired network, and a switch coupled to the WG and the NAG. Each wireless cluster is a Wireless LAN Network (WLAN) with homogenous or heterogeneous network architecture. The WG detects mobile nodes in a wireless cluster and tracks mobile node location in the wireless cluster. The NAG is an anchor point for mobile nodes in the WAWLAN and maintains a fixed source of information about each mobile node regardless of their mobility. The switch provides connectivity between the NAG and the WG. Seamless roaming across Wireless LAN network boundary by mobile subscribers without requiring special mobility enabling client software.

Wireless LAN (WLAN) networks can provide subscribers with an unprecedented degree of mobility and flexibility. However, a typical Wireless LAN network deployment (such as a hot spot, campus, or enterprise environment) provides limited roaming coverage due to a limited range of WLAN access points. A large scale implementation of a WAWLAN network may also present challenges, including maintaining a mobile subscriber's service and connectivity while the mobile subscriber crosses WLAN network boundaries (roams within the WAWLAN).
Additionally, there exist many implementation options available when using multiple networking architectures in deploying WLANs, such as, control and management intelligence residing in the access point (AP) itself (sometimes referred to as thick AP architecture), control and management intelligence residing in a controller within the WLAN but outside of the APs (sometimes referred to as thin AP architecture), and Wireless Mesh technology. Furthermore, roaming across a wide area network comprising different WLAN architectures presents another challenge in maintaining a mobile subscriber's service and connectivity while crossing WLAN boundaries.
A desire may then exist to create a WAWLAN, comprised of different WLAN architectures, that is capable of providing wireless access to a variety of mobile nodes (subscribers). The ability to permit mobile nodes access to the WAWLAN regardless of how the WLAN networks are implemented can increase the subscriber base, thereby increasing the potential profitability of the WAWLAN operators.
Additionally, to help reduce financial exposure in the deployment of a wireless network, an initial deployment of the WAWLAN may be limited in size and scope with the flexibility to choose the WLAN deployment architecture that is most suitable for supporting an initial customer base. As the number of subscribers increases, the WAWLAN can be expanded to support the increased number of subscribers. The expansion of the WAWLAN may comprise adding additional WLANs of the same networking technology or of a different networking technology.
One solution that can be used to support different networking technologies in a single WAWLAN is to make use of mobility enabling software applications that can be installed in each mobile node. The software applications (commonly referred to as mobility clients) installed in the mobile nodes can permit the mobile node the ability to communicate with the WAWLAN, regardless of what networking technology being implemented in a particular portion of the WAWLAN.
A disadvantage of the prior art that the inclusion of a mobility client in each of the mobile nodes may result in situations wherein a mobile node may not have the proper mobility client installed and may not be able to obtain access to the WAWLAN.
Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the installation of the mobility client application may tax mobile nodes with limited processing power or capability and may preclude their use in the WAWLAN or may limit their performance to a level that is unacceptable.
Yet another disadvantage of the prior art is that the wireless network operator must deploy network elements in the WAWLAN in support of the mobility client to enable mobile subscribers roam across the wide area Wireless LAN network. The additional hardware/software can require a large expenditure in maintenance and support. Furthermore, the lack of scalability of such a solution is not conducive to future expansion of the WAWLAN.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Clientless mobile subscribers with seamless roaming over scalable wide area wireless networks


A computer-based system for testing a circuit design for implementation within an integrated circuit device can include a design application (205) providing simulation instructions for testing a circuit design and a simulation driver (225) receiving the simulation instructions and translating the simulation instructions into control protocol instructions specifying operations of an integrated circuit control protocol. The system can include a simulation environment (240). The simulation environment can include a communication module (245) communicating with the simulation driver, a simulation cable driver (250) receiving the control protocol instructions from the simulation driver via the communication module, and a control module (255). The simulation cable driver further can translate the control protocol instructions into signaling information corresponding to the integrated circuit control protocol. The control module can include a plurality of ports receiving the signaling information and outputting the signaling information to a device under test within the simulation environment.

Circuit designs to be implemented within integrated circuit devices (ICs) typically are specified in programmatic form, e.g., using a hardware description language (HDL) as is known. The circuit designs can be thoroughly tested through simulation. Simulation refers to a process in which software-based models of the circuit design, typically specified in an HDL, are executed within a simulation environment to mimic the way the circuit design will perform when implemented within an IC. In this sense, simulation refers to a process that takes place entirely within one or more computer systems without a physical implementation of the circuit design in an IC.
Simulation typically entails the creation of a test bench, also referred to as a verification or simulation environment. A test bench refers to HDL descriptions that specify and verify the behavior of the device under test (DUT), in reference a programmatic description of the circuit design. Generating a test bench involves describing the connections, events, and test vectors for different combinations of transactions. A simulation engine is used to execute the test bench with respect to the DUT so that changes to signals and vectors can be observed over time. Typically, a test bench is implemented with a narrow goal in mind, e.g., to exercise a particular flip flop or other narrow portion of the DUT.
Since test benches are manually coded by a developer, test bench development can be a time consuming and error-prone process. As the circuit design continues to evolve, the test bench also must be modified in accordance with any changes made to the circuit design. In consequence, the maintenance of a test bench can be as time consuming and tedious of a process as first developing the test bench.
Another technique for testing circuit designs is called hardware co-simulation. Hardware co-simulation involves instantiating, e.g., synthesizing, the circuit design within an IC and conducting tests on the physical device. The IC can be disposed upon a hardware testing platform that can be coupled to a computer system. Using appropriate operational software on the computer system, various test commands can be provided from the computer system to the IC. Output from the IC can be observed and compared with expected signal output.
Simulation and hardware co-simulation both are valuable tools for circuit designers. Each technique offers a particular set of advantages. The two techniques, however, are mutually exclusive. That is, simulation and hardware co-simulation require different software suites for conducting the tests, different test cases to be developed and maintained, etc. As noted with respect to simulation, maintaining test cases, e.g., signal and vector combinations to be provided to the circuit design to invoke a particular operating state or condition, can be cumbersome. These test cases also must be developed and supported for hardware co-simulation, thereby requiring dual effort.

Generic software simulation interface for integrated circuits


Reduced images are obtained when image data are reproduced and kept at a uniform size while image data representing original images and image data representing reduced images are recorded on a recording medium efficiently. When image data are recorded on a memory card having a recording capacity of less than 50 megabytes, the original-image data are subsampled at a prescribed subsampling ratio to obtain reduced-image data. The reduced-image data and data representing the numbers of pixels of the reduced image in the horizontal and vertical directions thereof are recorded in the header area of the memory card. At playback, the reduced-image data and the numbers of pixels of the reduced image in the horizontal and vertical directions recorded on the memory card are read from the memory card. On the basis of the data representing the numbers of pixels of the reduced image in its horizontal and vertical directions, interpolation processing or subsampling processing is applied to the reduced-image data in such a manner that the reduced image takes on a fixed size. When the reduced-image data that have been subjected to the interpolation or subsampling processing are applied to a display unit, the reduced image having the fixed size is displayed in prompt fashion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image data recording/reproducing method for recording original-image data representing an original image and reduced-image data representing a reduced image of the original image on a recording medium such as a memory card or magneto-optical disk, and for reading and outputting the reduced-image data from the recording medium on which the data has been recorded. The invention further relates to an image data recording apparatus and method as well as an image data reproducing apparatus, which are suited to the above-mentioned image data recording/reproducing method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When original-image data representing an original image are recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card or magneto-optical disk, it has been contemplated to record reduced-image data representing a reduced image of the original image on the recording medium. If the recorded data are data representing a reduced image, the amount of image data is also small. As a result, quick readout is possible and the reduced image can be reproduced quickly as well. Reproducing the reduced image makes it possible to ascertain the content of the original image, which can be reproduced as necessary. The general practice is to generate the reduced-image data by subsampling the original-image data.
Since it is necessary to make the sizes of reduced images uniform, the quantity of reduced-image data is made uniform regardless of the coarseness or fineness of the original image and the quantity of original-image data. In order to make the quantity of reduced-image data uniform, consideration has been given to changing the subsampling ratio in dependence upon the quantity of original-image data. However, when the subsampling ratio is changed image by image in dependence upon the quantity of original-image data for the purpose of uniformalizing the quantity of reduced-image data, the smaller the quantity of original-image data, the larger the ratio of the quantity of reduced-image data to the quantity of original-image data. Accordingly, the quantity of original-image data capable of being recorded diminishes as a result of recording the reduced-image data. For example, consider a case where original-image data are recorded on a recording medium upon being subjected to data compression at a compression ratio of 1/8. If the size of a reduced image is 80 pixels horizontally and 64 pixels vertically, then the quantity of reduced-image data will be five kilobytes. In this case, for original-image data representing an original image having 1280 pixels horizontally and 1024 pixels vertically, the quantity of data recorded on the recording medium will be 160 kilobytes. For original-image data representing an original image having 640 pixels horizontally and 512 pixels vertically, the quantity of data recorded on the recording medium will be 41 kilobytes.
Regardless of the quantity of original-image data to be recorded on the recording medium, the quantity of reduced-image data is fixed. The smaller the quantity of original-image data, the more the difference between the quantity of original-image data and the quantity of reduced-image data diminishes and the smaller the advantage of recording the reduced-image data on the recording medium together with the original-image data becomes. These problems become particularly conspicuous if the recording medium is one having a small recording capacity.
Furthermore, if the area for recording the reduced-image data on the recording medium is not decided in advance, all recording areas must be searched when a reduced image is to be reproduced. As a result, reduced images cannot be reproduced in rapid fashion.

Method of recording and reproducing reduced image data correlated with original image data


A fiber optic probe is disclosed for delivering laser radiation from a medical laser system to a treatment site. The probe includes a handpiece having an axial channel. The axial channel includes an intermediate mating region of reduced diameter. A tip piece having a fiber located therein is mounted on the front end of the handpiece. The input end of the fiber is mounted in a ferrule which is received in the reduced diameter mating region of the handpiece. A tail piece which includes an optical fiber is mounted at the rear end of the handpiece. The delivery end of the fiber in the tail piece is mounted in a ferrule and is also received in the mating region of the handpiece. The two ferrules are spring biased together to maximize coupling efficiency. The mating region is spaced from the front end of the handpiece so that the force on the mating region, caused by the torque imparted to the tip piece during use, is less than it would be if the mating region were located at the front end whereby the coupling efficiency is maintained. The handpiece is designed to be reused after sterilization in an autoclave.

In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in the use of lasers in medicine and surgery. In one class of medical lasers, the laser energy is delivered from the laser to the patient via an optical fiber. Once such laser system which has achieved significant commercial success is marketed by the assignee herein under the trademark Versapulse. The Versapulse system includes a solid state Holmium:YAG laser that generates an output of 30 watts average power at a wavelength of 2.1 microns. The laser energy is coupled through an optical fiber which terminates in a handpiece manipulated by the surgeon.
A laser system of this type is used for a wide variety of surgical applications and is particularly suited for arthroscopic procedures. As the field has grown, a variety of handpieces have been developed which allow the surgeon latitude in treatment approaches. For example, the delivery end of the tip projecting out of the handpiece can be straight or curved. The delivery end of the probe can also include tines to help capture and stabilize cartilage during ablation. At the present time, a surgeon will often desire to use more than one probe configuration during a single procedure.
As can be appreciated, because of the potential for spreading infection, a probe used during one procedure can not be used with another patient in a subsequent procedure unless some form of sterilization was performed. Unfortunately, the probes that were initially introduced to the marketplace were not designed to withstand sterilization procedures and were therefore discarded after a single use.
Since that time, attention has been given to improving the design of the probe so that it can be sterilized. Within the last year, the assignee herein has manufactured and sold probes which could be sterilized using gas techniques. Unfortunately, gas sterilization is a relative time consuming, costly and potentially carcinogenic approach. In contrast, high temperature steam sterilization in an autoclave is faster, safer and less expensive. However, the prior probes were incapable of withstanding the high temperatures encountered in an autoclave. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a probe which could be sterilized in an autoclave.
The problems associated with sterilizing probes have been compounded by the proliferation of various tip designs described above. As can be appreciated, if a surgeon desires to use two or three different probes with different tip designs in a single procedure, all of the probes would have to be sterilized after use.
One prior art approach which has been implemented to address this difficulty has been to provide a two-part probe. The two-part probe includes a disposable tip piece and a reusable handpiece. During any given procedure, the surgeon can use a single handpiece and change tips (and delivery modalities) depending upon the requirements of the procedure as it progresses. At the end of the procedure, all of the tips that were used are discarded. Only the single handpiece needs to be sterilized.
There are still some difficulties associated with the latter approach which utilizes a two-part probe. First, the handpiece cannot be sterilized in an autoclave and the less desirable gas sterilization must be used. More significantly, since the delivery fiber now consists of two pieces, a means must be provided to insure that the optical coupling between the abutting ends of the fibers is maintained during use. In the prior art system, the disposable tip included a short extension member which projected about one half inch into the handpiece. A threaded coupling secured the tip in place.
The latter approach can provide good optical coupling when the two parts are initially connected. However, during a surgical procedure, the surgeon will push and twist the probe creating a torque on the interconnection between the tip and the handpiece. More specifically, a surgeon will can exert up to about one pound of force on the end of the tip during a procedure. The amount of torque this force generates is dependent on the length of the tip. Since a standard tip is on the order of five inches in length, the torque at the front end of the handpiece would be five inch-pounds.
When this amount of torque is applied to the optical coupling it can cause the ends of the abutting fibers to become misaligned. When the ends of the fibers become misaligned, the energy of the laser will not be coupled from one to the other but rather will scatter within the handpiece. If the leakage is severe, the fiber and/or the handpiece can overheat and be catastrophically destroyed. Even if the leakage is insufficient to cause destruction, the power lost will prevent the desired laser energy level from being delivered to the surgical site.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and is an object of the present invention to design a optical probe which includes a connectable tip having a configuration designed to maintain optical coupling efficiency during a surgical procedure.
It is a further object of the subject invention to provide a handpiece which can be readily sterilized in a steam autoclave.
It is still another object of the subject invention to provide a tip which is either disposable or could be sterilized in a steam autoclave.


Compounds of the formula:

The skin constitutes the most important organ of the body and is recognized as one of the main active components of the immune defence system. Three types of epidermal cells participate in this system: the keratinocytes, the melanocytes and the Langerhans' cells. These cells, which are found only in the skin, play a key role in the immune response and in particular in antigen presentation.
Healthy skin is capable of defending itself from external attacks using the means at its disposal. It is known however that the immune system, and more particularly that of the skin, weakens during chronobiological ageing.
In addition, the skin is subjected to constant attack by the environment and by certain chemical products. In particular, the Langerhans' cells are the preferred target for ultraviolet radiation. These attacks result in an immune defence suppressing effect.
This has in particular as consequence a less good destruction of the "sunburn cells" whose accumulation generates cytokines which are themselves capable of generating free radicals and of adversely affecting the dermis (in particular by promoting the degradation of collagen) and the epidermis (in particular by slowing the renewal of the epithelium). These effects contribute towards an acceleration of skin ageing.
An immunostimulatory effect can in this case reestablish the immune functions and more particularly those of the epidermis by strengthening the natural defences of the skin and thus make it possible in particular to combat or prevent the cutaneous signs of ageing.
Bacterial extracts endowed with immunostimulatory properties are known in the prior art. It is moreover known that the lipopolysaccharides (designated hereinafter LPS) anchored in the outer membrane of these bacteria are partly responsible for these properties.
LPSs are complex chemical molecules having a molecular mass of between 8000 and 54 000 daltons, having a stratified structure in three compartments which, from the outside to the inside of the cell, are:
the O antigen, which is a polymer, specific to a given strain, consisting of 1 to 10 units of which each comprises a succession of 5 to 7 sugars, generally amino sugars,
the core, which is a polysaccharide which is highly conserved from one bacterial genus to another and which is linked to lipid A by a molecule specific to Gram-negative bacteria, KDO (2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid), and
lipid A which anchors the LPS in the outer membrane of the bacterium.
Lipid A is a dimer of glucosamine carrying, through condensation with its hydroxyl groups situated at the 3- and 3′-positions and with its amino groups situated at the 2- and 2′-positions, more or less unsaturated and hydroxylated fatty acids which may themselves be esterified, on their hydroxyl groups, with other fatty acids. It is these fatty acids which allow anchorage of lipid A in the outer membrane of the cell, which is of a phospholipid nature. In addition, their nature (as C12-C18) and their position on glucosamines determine the biological activity of the lipids A and therefore of the LPS(s).
The search for biologically active LPSs is however hampered by the problem of the endotoxicity of these molecules. Indeed, most LPSs possess a lipid A which, once unanchored from the cell membrane, is capable of binding to the CD14 receptors and of activating them, thus causing in particular a release of TNF which is capable of causing a septic shock.
Research studies have been carried out in order to determine which structural factors could influence the agonist or antagonist character of the CD14 receptors for these LPSs. It has been demonstrated that the LPSs of cylindrical shape and/or whose fatty acids are arranged symmetrically on the glucosamine backbone are rather antagonists of CD14, in contrast to the conically shaped and/or asymmetric LPSs (Schromm et al, Eur. J. Biochem. 267 pp 2008-2013 (2000)).

Lipid A-type compound and composition containing it

Abstract: Compounds of the formula:

Abstract: and compositions containing one or more such compounds, the compositions preferably being suitable for topical application to the skin.


A method for activating the P-type semiconductor layer of a semiconductor device is disclosed in this present invention. The above-mentioned method can activate the impurities in the P-type semiconductor layer of a semiconductor device by plasma. The plasma comprises a gas source including a VI Group compound element. The performance of the semiconductor device activated by plasma according to this invention is similar to the performance of the semiconductor device activated by heat in the prior art. Therefore, this invention can provide a method, other then heat, for activating the P-type semiconductor layer of a semiconductor device. Moreover, in this invention, during the activating process by plasma, the layers other than P-type semiconductor layer will not be affected by plasma. That is, the activating process according to this invention will not cause any side-reactions in the layers other than the P-type semiconductor layer of a semiconductor device. Thus, this invention discloses an efficient method for activating a P-type semiconductor layer of a semiconductor structure by plasma instead of heat.

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to a method for activating a semiconductor structure, and more particularly to a method for activating a P-type semiconductor layer of a semiconductor structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, The Light-Emitting Diode (LED) has become more and more popular. However, a blue light-emitting device employing a blue color-emitting element has not yet been developed as a practical device. Actually, P-type III-V Group compound semiconductor having a sufficiently low-resistance cannot be produced by any conventional techniques. In the case of a GaN series compound semiconductor, as an active layer of an LED, there is a tendency for the semiconductor to exhibit n-type characteristics even without doping an n-type impurity. Therefore, some P-type dopants, such as Mg or Zn, are doped into the GaN series compound semiconductor. Even by conventional chemical vapor deposition or any like method while doping P-type impurities, it is impossible to make III-V Group compound semiconductor characteristic P-type. That is because an activating process is necessary after developing the III-V Group compound semiconductor.
In the prior art, one well-known method for activating the active layer is heating the LED structure with a furnace or through a rapid thermal annealing process. The above-mentioned method sends the substrate with the active layer thereon into a high temperature furnace, to activate the active layer. The substrate with the active layer thereon is heated under a temperature about hundreds of degree C. According to the above-mentioned method, the active layer can be activated under the high temperature, but the other portion of the LED may be hurt under the temperature.
Another well-known method for activating the active layer is irradiating electron beams on the active layer. According to this method, the uppermost active layer is activated by irradiating electron beams while maintaining a surface temperature of the active layer at 600° C. or higher. However, this method still activates the active layer by heat. Moreover, the above-mentioned method is rarely applied on manufacturing process, because the method cannot be easily applied on a wide semiconductor device.
Hence, it is an important object, in developing a method for activating the active layer of a semiconductor device without thermal effects to lower the resistance of a semiconductor device and optimize the performance of the semiconductor device.

Method for activating P-type semiconductor layer


A method for diagnosing a degree of interference between a plurality of faults in a system under test, the faults being detected by means of applying a test suite to the system under test, includes: 1) for each of the plurality of faults, and for each of a plurality of test syndromes, where a test syndrome is a pattern of passing and failing tests of the test suite, determining relative frequencies at which particular ones of the faults are coupled with particular ones of the syndromes; and 2) using the relative frequencies at which particular ones of the faults are coupled with particular ones of the syndromes to calculate and display to a user, via a graphical user interface, and for the test suite as a whole, test suite degrees of interference between pairs of the faults. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A wide variety of systems including mechanical, electrical and chemical systems as well a combinations thereof are commonly tested under a variety of environments including manufacturing test environments and field support environments. These systems include electronic systems such as circuit boards, and full systems having a variety of circuit boards. These systems also include automobiles, satellite systems, and test equipment. Such a system, while undergoing a test cycle, may be referred to as a system under test.
A system under test typically includes a variety of components. Such components include, for example, integrated circuit devices, electrical components, battery systems, mechanical components, electrical buses, wiring components, and wiring harness and backplane components. Any one or more of these components may fail and thereby cause a failure of the system under test.
Prior diagnostic systems for determining likely failed components in a system under test include model-based diagnostic systems. A model-based diagnostic system may be defined as a diagnostic system that renders conclusions about the state of the system under test, using actual system under test responses from applied tests as an input to the diagnostic system. Such a diagnostic system is usually based upon computer generated models of the system under test and its components, as well as the diagnostic process.
It is usually desirable to employ a model-based diagnostic system that is based upon a more manageable model of system under test characteristics. Such a model-based diagnostic system usually minimizes the amount of modeling information for a system under test that must be generated by a user before the system can be applied to the system under test. Such modeling usually speeds the process of adapting the diagnostic system to differing systems under test, and increases confidence in the determinations rendered by the diagnostic system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,919 of Preist et. al. discloses a model-based diagnostic system, based on functional tests, in which the modeling burden is greatly reduced. The model disclosed in Preist et. al. employs a list of functional tests, a list of components exercised by each functional test, along with the degree to which each component is exercised by each functional test, and (if available) the historical or a priori failure rate for individual components. Such model data may be rapidly and easily determined or estimated by test engineers, test programmers or others familiar with, but not necessarily expert on, a system under test. Typically, the models may be developed by test engineers in a few days to a few weeks depending on the complexity of the system under test.
Sometimes, a test engineer may desire to use a model-based diagnostic system such as that which is disclosed by Priest et. al. to determine whether a fault is detectable or diagnosable. A "fault" represents one or more components or sub-components that are behaving abnormally causing one or more tests in a test suite to fail. A "detectable fault" is one that causes at least one test in a test suite to fail. A "diagnosable fault" is one that can be uniquely identified given an ambiguity group comprised of faults that all cause the same test (or group of tests) to fail. Thus, even when a particular fault is detectable, it may be difficult to diagnose it as the root cause of a test failure, because other faults may tend to cause the same test failure and thereby "interfere" with the ability to diagnose the particular fault as the root cause of a test failure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,079 of Booth et. al. discloses methods for automatically analyzing a model-based diagnostic system, such as that which is disclosed by Priest et. al., to identify detectability and diagnosability problems of faults. However, the methods disclosed by Booth et. al., taken alone, do not always provide enough information regarding a diagnosability problem. Thus, the methods disclosed by Booth et. al. may tell a user that a diagnosability problem exists, but may not always provide the user with enough information to fully assess or troubleshoot the diagnosability problem.

Methods and apparatus for diagnosing a degree of interference between a plurality of faults in a system under test


A precision machining apparatus and a precision machining method capable of carrying out grinding with accuracy by performing switching control, for example, on a device for rotating a grinding wheel according to grinding stages through the amount of movement and constant pressure changed stepwise. To a second pedestal 3 supporting a rotary device 6b for rotating a grinding wheel b, an actuator 5 and a feed screw mechanism 4 constituted by at least a feed screw 41 and a nut 42 are attached. In a rough grinding stage, the movement of the rotary device 6b and the second pedestal 3 is adjusted through a predetermined amount of movement of the nut 42. In a super-precision grinding stage, the movement of the rotary device 6b and the second pedestal 3 is adjusted by pressure control using stepwise a plurality of pneumatic actuators 5a, 5b differing in pressure performance. An attitude control device 7 is interposed between a first pedestal 2 and a rotary device 6a for rotating an object a to be ground.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a precision machining apparatus and a precision machining method used for working an object which needs to be worked so that the shape/size accuracy and the flatness of a finished surface is high, e.g., a silicon wafer or a magnetic disk substrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to a precision machining apparatus and a precision machining method capable of carrying out grinding with accuracy by performing switching control, for example, on a device for rotating a grinding wheel according to grinding stages through the amount of movement and constant pressure changed stepwise.
2. Background Art
There has recently been an increasing demand for reducing energy loss in next-generation power devices while reducing the size of the devices. An example of such a demand includes a demand for increasing the number of layers in a semiconductor multilayer structure for electronics purposes and increasing the packaging density of semiconductor devices. Examples of methods conceivable as measures to meet such a demand include a method for reducing the thickness of semiconductor wafers typified by a Si wafer to an extremely small value, a working method which prevents dislocation and lattice strain in a worked surface and a portion below a worked surface, and a working method which reduces the surface roughness (Ra) to a value in a range from the subnanometer (nm) level to the nanometer (nm) level and reduces the flatness of a worked surface to a value in a range from the submicrometer (μm) level to the micrometer (μm) level or a lower range.
In the motor vehicle industry, an integrated bipolar transistor (IGBT) which is a power device for motor vehicles forms an essential system in inverter systems. A further improvement in marketability of hybrid vehicles achieved by improving the performance of an inverter using the IGBT and by reducing the size of the inverter is being expected. Reducing the thickness of the Si wafer constituting the IGBT to 50 to an extremely small value of about 150 μm, preferably 80 to 140 μm, more preferably 90 to 120 μm to reduce switching loss, steady loss and thermal loss is indispensable to improving the inverter. Further, an improvement in yield in a process step of forming electrodes on the semiconductor and an increase in the number of layers in the semiconductor multilayer structure can be achieved by forming a perfect surface with no dislocation and no lattice strain in a worked surface of a circular Si wafer having a diameter of 200 to 400 mm or in an internal portion in the vicinity of the worked surface and by reducing the surface roughness (Ra) to a value in a range from the subnanometer level to the nanometer level and the flatness to a value in a range from the submicrometer level to the micrometer level.
In ordinary cases under present circumstances, a multistep process including rough grinding using a diamond grinding wheel, lapping, etching and wet chemo-mechanical polishing (wet-CMP) using a loose abrasive is required for the above-described semiconductor working process. It is extremely difficult to obtain a perfect surface by the conventional working method using such process steps, since an oxide layer, dislocation and lattice strain are produced in the worked surface. Also, the flatness of a wafer worked by the conventional method is low and a break in the wafer may be caused during working or after electrode formation, which leads to a reduction in yield. Further, in the conventional working method, the difficulty in reducing the wafer thickness to an extremely small value is increased with the increase in wafer diameter to 200 mm, to 300 mm and to 400 mm. Studies are presently being conducted to reduce the thickness of a wafer having a diameter of 200 mm to the 100 μm level.
In view of the above-described problem of the conventional art, the inventors of the present invention disclosed an invention relating to a precision surface working machine capable of consistently performing a process from rough working to super-precision surface working including final ductility mode working with efficiency by using only a diamond grinding wheel (JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-141207 A).
In this grinding using a diamond grinding wheel, three essential actions: rotation of the grinding wheel, feed by a main spindle supporting the grinding wheel and positioning of an object to be worked are important. These actions are controlled with accuracy to enable precision working. A process from rough working to super-precision working consistently performed by using one apparatus through the entire process, in particular, requires accurate control of feed by the main spindle through a wide range in the above-described essential actions. For example, a system using a servo motor is ordinarily used for control of the main spindle in conventional grinding. However, this system cannot be said to be adequate for accurate control through low-pressure and high-pressure regions. This system is inadequate for working in a low-pressure region in which super-precision working is performed, in particular.
The inventors of the present invention then disclosed a precision working machine in which pressure control is performed by means of a combination of a servo motor and a super-magnetostrictive actuator. Control is performed by means of the servo motor and a piezoelectric actuator in a pressure range of 10 gf/cm2 or higher and is performed by means of the super-magnetostrictive actuator in a pressure range from 0.01 to 10 gf/cm2. In this way, a process from rough working to super-precision working can be consistently performed by using one apparatus through the entire process. In this precision working machine, a diamond cup type of grinding wheel having an abrasive grain size finer than No. 3000.
In the precision working machine disclosed in JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-141207 A, a process from rough grinding to super-precision working can be consistently performed by using one apparatus through the entire process, and extremely high accuracy with which a surface to be finished is worked can be achieved. However, there has been a problem that when super-precision working is performed by means of the super-magnetostrictive actuator only, heat generated from the super-magnetostrictive affects other components of the precision working machine and the other components and they may be damaged by the heat.

Precision machining apparatus and precision machining method


A method of mounting a battery box (10) on a frame rail (12). Fasteners and elements (36, 38; or 54, 56) provide spaced apart, axially tapered outer surfaces (46; 62) proximate a vertical side of the rail with the tapers narrowing toward the side of the rail. The box has tabs (28) having downwardly open throats (30). The box is hung on the rail by positioning the box so as to place each tab over a respective element (38 or 56) on the fastener (36 or 54) with the tab throat aligned with the element, and then lowering the box to cause the elements to enter the tab throats and the throats to come to rest on the elements so that at least some of the weight of the box is borne by the rail through the throats resting on the elements. With the throats resting on the elements, the tapered outer surfaces present axial interference to the tabs beyond the tabs relative to the rail. After the box has been hung, the box is fastened to the rail by additional fasteners.

Certain processes in the assembly of motor vehicles in an assembly plant require that a module be fastened to a generally vertical side surface of the vehicle structure. One example of this is the fastening of a battery box to the side of a chassis frame rail. Because larger modules like a battery box can have significant weight, it is preferable that an assembler not have to support the weight of the module while fastening it in place.
A prior method of assembling a battery box to a chassis frame rail comprises fastening two hanger brackets to the frame rail at mounting locations that are spaced apart along the length of the frame rail. The hanger brackets are stampings shaped to provide hanger hooks. The battery box has sides that include fastening formations shaped for association with the hanger brackets so as to allow the battery box to be hung on the hanger hooks before fasteners are run through the hanger brackets and the fastening formations in the sides of the battery box to securely fasten the battery box in place. In that way the weight of the box is borne by the frame rail and not by the assembler as the assembler is completing the fastening of the box to the frame rail.

Module-locating fastener and method of mounting on a vehicle chassis

International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC


A pick-and-place type circuit board mounting bracket is surface-mounted, or alternatively, soldered with reinforcing posts that occupy one or more through-holes in the circuit board. The mounting face of the bracket is offset with respect to its mounting base to allow the face of the bracket to be sub-flush, flush, or extend beyond the edge of the circuit board. The front surface of the bracket is preferably perpendicular to the bottom surface and a longitudinal threaded bore extends through the main body to provide attachment means for affixing structures to the bracket. The posts which extend downwardly through the circuit board may have at least one planar side surface or a single rectangular post may be employed. The length of the posts is preferably less than the thickness of the circuit board for surface mount applications or long enough to extend through the circuit board for wave soldering.

There are many mounting brackets that provide mounting attachment at a right angle from a surface. A particular bracket is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,501 entitled "Perpendicular Edge Fastener." The device in this patent includes a rectangular base which provides clinch-type attachment of the bracket to a metal sheet. There is, however, a great demand for mounting brackets for circuit boards, but this device is not suitable for circuit board applications. Heretofore none has been devised which may be most efficiently used as a versatile right-angle circuit board surface mount bracket. One requirement for a circuit board bracket is its ability to provide a vertical attachment face which is flush with or extends beyond the edge of the circuit board, however this desired mounting position poses several problems. First, to be efficiently used in high volume circuit board production, the mounting bracket is often required to be transported to the circuit board by automated pick-and-place equipment. Such equipment requires a centered, flat top surface so that the device can be handled by the vacuum placement arm. Secondly, the mounting bracket needs to have a planar attachment face to establish an orientation plane perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board. Finally, the circuit board bottom surface of the bracket cannot be co-extensive with the attachment face because when flush edge mounting is required, or a mounting arrangement in which the attachment face is required to extend beyond the edge of the circuit board, there is not a circuit board perimeter along the front edge of the bracket to permit the proper inspection of the surface mount solder joint. Unfortunately, no device presently exists which provides a circuit board mounting bracket with features which solve these problems.
Pertinent patent prior art of which the applicant is aware includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,643,143 issued to Stewart et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,856 issued to Maxwell; U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,984 issued to Mosser et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,064 issued to Zarreii; U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,912 issued to Zell; U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,431 issued to Garay et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,696 issued to Niitsu et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,093 issued to Seong et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,392 issued to Wang; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,653 issued to Jones et al. These patents all describe circuit board mounting hardware but none fulfills the need in the art described above.


The present invention provides a production method of a sulfonylpyrrole compound useful as a pharmaceutical product, a production method of an intermediate used for the method, and a novel intermediate. The present invention relates to a method of producing sulfonylpyrrole compound (VIII), which includes reducing compound (III) and hydrolyzing the reduced product to give compound (IV), subjecting compound (IV) to a sulfonylation reaction to give compound (VI), and subjecting compound (VI) to an amination reaction.

A pyrrole compound having a substituted sulfonyl group at the 1-position (hereinafter to be referred to as a sulfonylpyrrole compound) is useful as an acid secretion inhibitor (proton pump inhibitor), a therapeutic drug for a neoplastic disease or an autoimmune disease (patent documents 1-3).
For example, patent document 2 describes, as a compound having an acid secretion suppressive activity, a compound represented by the formula:
wherein r1 is a monocyclic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group optionally condensed with a benzene ring or a heterocycle, wherein the monocyclic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group optionally condensed with a benzene ring or a heterocycle optionally has substituent(s), r2 is an optionally substituted C6-14 aryl group, an optionally substituted thienyl group or an optionally substituted pyridyl group, r3 and r4 are each a hydrogen atom, or one of r3 and r4 is a hydrogen atom and the other is an optionally substituted lower alkyl group, an acyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or a nitro group, and r5 is an alkyl group, or a salt thereof.
Patent document 2 describes, as a production method of a sulfonylpyrrole compound, the following method using a pyrrole-3-carboxylate:

Patent document 3 describes the following production method of a sulfonylpyrrole compound:
wherein Q is chlorine, bromine or iodine.
On the other hand, the following method is known as a production method of a 2-halogeno-3-cyanopyrrole compound.

As a method for producing a 3-cyanopyrrole compound from a 2-halogeno-3-cyanopyrrole compound, the following methods are known.

As a method for producing a 3-formylpyrrole compound from a 3-cyanopyrrole compound, the following methods are known.

In addition, as a 3-cyanopyrrole compound, the following compounds are known.

TABLE 1waxayazaRd3-CN4-Cl5-Cl2-(p-CF3O—C6H5)C2H54-NO22-Br3-Br5-(p-Cl—C6H5)C2H54-NO22-Cl3-Cl5-(3,4-diCl—C6H5)C2H54-NO22-Cl3-Cl5-(p-Br—C6H5)C2H53-CN4-Cl5-Cl2-(p-CF3—C6H5)C2H53-CN4-Cl5-Cl2-(3,4-diCl—C6H5)C2H53-CN4-Cl5-Cl2-(p-Cl—C6H5)C2H54-NO22-(p-Cl—C6H5)5-CF32-(p-Cl—C6H5)C2H53-CN4-Br5-Br2-BrC2H53-CN4-Br5-CF32-(p-Cl—C6H5)C2H53-CN4-Cl5-CF32-(p-Cl—C6H5)C2H54-NO23-(p-Cl—C6H5)5-CF32-(p-Cl—C6H5)C2H54-NO24-(3,4-diCl—C6H5)5-CF32-(p-Cl—C6H5)C2H54-NO23-(m-CN—C6H5)2-CF35-(p-Cl—C6H5)C2H53-CN4-Br5-Br2-(p-CF3—C6H5)C2H53-CN2-Cl4-Cl5-(3,4-diCl—C6H5)C2H53-CN2-Cl4-Br5-(p-Br—C6H5)C2H5

TABLE 2Compound NoQnxbybzb2-53-ClHCNH2-63-ClCH3CNH2-73-ClClCNH2-83-ClBrCNH2-313-ClHCNCH32-323-ClHCNCHO2-573-MeHCNH2-583-MeCH3CNH2-593-MeClCNH2-603-MeBrCNH2-723-MeHCNCH32-733-MeHCNCHO2-923-cyclopropylHCNH2-933-cyclopropylCH3CNH2-943-cyclopropylClCNH2-953-cyclopropylBrCNH2-1083-cyclopropylHCNCH32-1093-cyclopropylHCNCHO
TABLE 3Compound NoQnxbybzb2-1285-cyclopropylHCNH2-1295-cyclopropylCH3CNH2-1305-cyclopropylClCNH2-1315-cyclopropylBrCNH2-1455-cyclopropylHCNCH32-1465-cyclopropylHCNCHO2-1575-EtHCNH2-1585-EtCH3CNH2-1595-EtClCNH2-1605-EtBrCNH2-1755-EtHCNCH32-1765-EtHCNCHO2-1953-C≡CHHCNH2-1963-C≡CHCH3CNH2-1973-C≡CHClCNH2-1983-C≡CHBrCNH2-2123-C≡CHHCNCH32-2133-C≡CHHCNCHO
In addition, as a 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative, the following compounds are known.
For example, non-patent document 5 describes 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative (A) having a cyano group at the 3-position:
non-patent document 6 describes 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative (B) having a cyano group at the 3-position:
patent document 11 describes 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative (C) having a cyano group at the 3-position:
and patent document 12 describes 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative (D) having a cyano group at the 3-position:

As a synthesis method of these 2-mercaptopyrrole derivatives having a cyano group at the 3-position, non-patent document 5 describes, as shown in the following reaction scheme, a synthesis method of mercaptopyrrole derivative (A) by a reaction of a (2-oxoethyl) malononitrile derivative with hydrogen sulfide; however, a desulfurization reaction is not described.

In addition, non-patent document 6 describes, as shown in the following reaction scheme, a synthesis method of 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative (B) having a cyano group at the 3-position is described; however, it is not by a ring closure reaction of a (2-oxoethyl) malononitrile derivative and a sulfur compound. Furthermore, a desulfurization reaction of the obtained 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative is not described.

Moreover, patent document 11 describes, as shown in the following reaction scheme, a synthesis method of 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative (C) having a cyano group at the 3-position; however, it is not by a ring closure reaction of a (2-oxoethyl) malononitrile derivative and a sulfur compound. Furthermore, a desulfurization reaction of the obtained 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative is not described.

Moreover, patent document 12 describes, as shown in the following reaction scheme, a synthesis method of 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative (D) having a cyano group at the 3-position; however, it is not by a ring closure reaction of a (2-oxoethyl) malononitrile derivative and a sulfur compound. In addition, a desulfurization reaction of the obtained 2-mercaptopyrrole derivative is not described.


A method of, and module for, converting position or momentum correlation of correlated photon pairs to a polarization entangled photon pair, and a source for polarization entangled photon pairs. The method comprises a conversion step of separating the correlated photon pairs into first and second groups based on their generated position at the crystal (position correlation) or their direction about the propagation axis (momentum correlation) and rotating a polarization of the first correlated photon pair group such that the polarization of the first correlated pair group is at 90 degrees relative to the polarization of the second correlated photon pair group; and a combining step of combining the first and second correlated photon pairs such that at least respective portions of respective spatial distributions of the first and second photon pair groups overlap with negligible wavelength dependent phase difference.

Any mention and/or discussion of prior art throughout the specification should not be considered, in any way, as an admission that this prior art is well known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
A source of polarization entangled photons is one of the basic requirements for laboratory research in quantum communication. Moreover, quantum key distribution networks require compact and robust entangled photon sources which can withstand vibrations and temperature fluctuations.
Hence, bright and stable sources of polarization entangled photon pairs are of great interest in quantum communication. The most popular way of generating such photon pairs is through spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) of a laser beam in a second order nonlinear crystal. One of the main concerns for the design of such sources is the phase stability of the generated state against temperature fluctuations and vibrations. As the phase is directly related to the pump laser wavelength, the fluctuations in the central wavelength of the pump will degrade the entangled state. In critically phase matched designs [Villar, Aitor, Alexander Lohrmann, and Alexander Ling. "Experimental entangled photon pair generation using crystals with parallel optical axes." Optics express 26.10 (2018): 12396-12402], angular instability in the alignment of the nonlinear crystals will contribute to the phase instability of the generated state. Specifically, [1] describes a method that utilizes the two coherent SPDC processes to generate photon pairs entangled in polarization.
In quasi-phase matched designs [Steinlechner, Fabian, et al. "Efficient heralding of polarization-entangled photons from type-0 and type-II spontaneous parametric down conversion in periodically poled KTiOPO 4." JOSA B 31.9 (2014): 2068-2076] the whole process depends also on the thermal fluctuations in the temperature bath in which the periodically poled crystal is mounted. Both sources of instability are severe limitations for the application of entangled photon sources. Moreover, high bright polarization entangled photons are created by superposing photon states from two SPDC processes which are orthogonal to each other. This quantum superposition is done via interferometry which involves mirrors and beam splitters. Hence such designs have relatively larger foot print and are vulnerable to misalignments due to mechanical vibrations.
Embodiments of the present invention seek to address at least one of the above problems.

Method and system for converting position or momentum correlation of photon pairs to a polarization entangled photon pair


In the m phase brushless motor, n (n<m) phase magnet coil groups are provided with magnetic sensors, while the remaining (m−n) phase magnet coil groups are not provided with magnetic sensors. The drive control circuit utilizes the sensor outputs of the n magnetic sensors to generates n sets of drive signals for the n phase magnet coil groups. The drive control circuit further generates (m−n) sets of drive signals for the (m−n) phase magnet coil groups not associated with the n magnetic sensors, using one or more of the sensor outputs of the n magnetic sensors in generation of each of the (m−n) sets of drive signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to drive control technology for a brushless motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Brushless motors known in the art include that disclosed in JP2001-298982A, for example.
In this prior art brushless motor, control is carried out using on/off signals from digital magnetic sensors. Specifically, the timing for reversing the polarity of the voltage applied to the magnet coils is determined using the on/off signals from the digital magnetic sensors.
A conventional brushless motor is typically furnished with a number m of sensors corresponding to m phase coil groups, with the drive signal of each phase coil group generated by a dedicated sensor for each phase. However, it has been found that since errors and variations are present in the sensor output of the sensors, if the drive signal for each phase is generated by a dedicated sensor for the phase, the drive signals for each of the phases may develop improper phasing, resulting in lower efficiency of the motor.


First and second wells are formed in a semiconductor substrate. First and second trenches in the first second wells, respectively, each extend vertically and include a central conductor insulated by a first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed on a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second insulating layer is selectively thinned over the second trench. A polysilicon layer is deposited on the second insulating layer and then lithographically patterned to form: a first polysilicon portion over the first well that is electrically connected to the central conductor of the first trench to form a first capacitor plate, a second capacitor plate formed by the first well; and a second polysilicon portion over the second well forming a floating gate electrode of a floating gate transistor of a memory cell having an access transistor whose control gate is formed by the central conductor of the second trench.

Capacitive elements, such as charge-storage capacitors, are generally bulky components in integrated-circuit architectures.
Moreover, integrated-circuit component fabricating process steps are generally many in number and expensive, and it is constraining to implement steps dedicated solely to the fabrication of a single element or of a single type of element.
Thus, it would be desirable to increase the capacitance per unit area of integrated-circuit capacitive-element architectures, and to implement their fabricating steps conjointly with the production of other components of the integrated circuit.

Co-integrated vertically structured capacitive element and fabrication process


A case for transporting shoes is disclosed which comprises front and back walls, top and bottom walls, and first and second side walls which define a chamber. The front and back walls, top and bottom walls and the first side wall are formed as an integral structure. The second side wall is hinged proximate the bottom wall to permit the second side wall to move from a closed position to an open position to permit access to the chamber. The chamber comprises a plurality of compartments for receiving shoes. The case includes two hooks which are disposed in substantially parallel relationship to one another and which can move from a retracted to an extended position for hanging the case. Transportation of the case is facilitated by wheels mounted proximate the intersection of the back and bottom walls, and by a handle which is movable from a retracted position inside the case to an extended position out the top of the case.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for use in transporting shoes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a person travels, it is often the case that he or she packs one or more pair of shoes in addition to the ones being worn. It is common for shoes to be packed in a suitcase along with the traveler's clothes and other articles, and such packing of shoes tends to be done in a random, as opposed to an organized, manner. Shoes can take up a substantial amount of suitcase space, and the random packing of shoes in a suitcase most likely results from the traveler endeavoring to make an efficient use of available suitcase space. Additionally, packing shoes a suitcase often requires the traveler to put the shoes in a plastic bag or the like to prevent polish or dirt on the shoes from soiling the traveler's clothes which are also packed in the suitcase.
Upon arrival of his or her destination, the traveler does not usually have a convenient place in which to keep the shoes. The traveler may, for example, opt either to live out of a suitcase and to remove a given pair of shoes from the suitcase as needed or to strew the shoes in a random, haphazard manner on the floor of the room or a closet. Neither of these alternatives is convenient.
Various approaches have been suggested for transporting shoes; however, these approaches have focused on providing shoe cases which are in the form of a standard type suitcase. Examples of such shoe cases are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,705,150; 1,921,110; 1,968,580; 2,634,835; 2,698,689; 2,874,813; 3,001,650; 3,414,093; and 4,699,267. None of the shoe cases described in the above-identified patents adequately solve the problem of providing a convenient mechanism for transporting the shoes and having them be conveniently available to the traveler upon arrival at his or her destination. That novel and useful result has been achieved by the apparatus of the present invention.


An impeller golf club of the type having a piston with a face plate mounted on the club head which stikes a golf ball when a cartridge in the club head is detonated wherein the improvement is a safety feature which prevents the cartridge from being detonated unless the club is positioned in substantially the required position for striking the ball. The safety feature includes three balls, each free to roll in its own groove. Any one of the balls may interfere with actuating depression of the trigger button unless the club is located in the safe range of positions. The cartridges are retained in a cartridge holder that is insertable in the club head and secured by a cam that is released by the user turnng a cam handle.

The game of golf uses clubs which are swung into contact with the golf ball to provide the necessary energy to impel the ball down the fairway. Many people who would otherwise enjoy golf are not capable of physically swinging the club hard enough to participate in the sport. In particular, many people who are capable of using a putter are not capable of driving the golf ball a significant distance from the tee to the green.
In the past, others have tried unsuccessfully to solve this problem by inventing clubs which generate impelling force against the ball, independent of energy imparted by swinging the club. These attempts have failed because the club must be swung against the ball.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,594 to Taylor and Duncalf disclose a different approach. The player assumes the normal stance for driving the ball and places the club against the ball. The head of the club has a piston plate that strikes the ball when the user presses a button on the handle which detonates a cartridge behind the piston in the club head. The ball is thereby driven down the fairway without the player having to swing the club. This patent is hereby incorporated as reference into this application.
In spite of the major advance in the art disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,594, a significant problem remains regarding the safety of using the club. The problem is the possibility that the cartridge may fire when the club is not in a position to strike the ball. Such a situation might occur when the user might not realize that when returning the club to the golf bag, the club may be cocked and ready for firing. Another situation might be if a child were to play with the club and have it accidentally fire.
Another characteristic of the club of the prior art (disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,594) is that a mechanism for securing a cartridge holder in a breech chamber includes a spring loaded latch pin that bears down and captures the cartridge holder. Removal and insertion of the cartridge holder into a club head with this mechanism is more inconvenient than the construction according to the present invention. Furthermore, springs wear and lose their resiliency so that reliability of the spring based mechanism diminishes with use.

Ballistic impeller golf club with safety handle


A differential analog to digital converter (ADC) comprises first and second resistance ladder legs, first and second amplifiers, and a plurality of comparators. Each resistance ladder leg includes two resistances having first ends that communicate with a middle node and second ends that communicate with a current source. The first amplifier applies a voltage based upon a first phase of an input signal to the middle node of the first resistance ladder leg. The second amplifier applies a voltage based upon a second phase of the input signal to the middle node of the second resistance ladder leg. The plurality of comparators each has first and second inputs, wherein the first input communicates with one of the two resistances of the first resistance ladder leg, and the second input communicates with one of the two resistances of the second resistance ladder leg.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a functional circuit diagram of a differential resistance ladder for an analog to digital converter (ADC) is presented. The differential resistance ladder includes a positive leg 100 and a negative leg 101, which respectively receive a positive phase and a negative phase of an input signal. The positive leg 100 includes a first voltage source 102 that outputs an AC voltage equal to the positive phase (V+) of the input signal, referenced to a ground potential 104. This voltage is applied to a first terminal of a first resistance 106 including resistances 106-1, 106-2, . . . , and 106-N. An opposite terminal of the first resistance 106 communicates with a first terminal of a second resistance 108 including resistances 108-1, 108-2, . . . , and 108-N. An opposite terminal of the second resistance 108 communicates with a second voltage source 110. The second voltage source 110 outputs a voltage equal to V+ minus a DC voltage (VDC), referenced to ground 104.
The negative leg 101 includes a third voltage source 112 that outputs an AC voltage equal to the negative phase (V−) of the input signal to a first terminal of a third resistance 114 including resistances 114-1, 114-2, . . . , and 114-N. An opposite terminal of the third resistance 114 communicates with a first terminal of a fourth resistance 116 including resistances 116-1, 116-2, . . . , and 116-N. An opposite terminal of the fourth resistance 116 communicates with a fourth voltage source 118. The fourth voltage source 118 outputs a voltage equal to V− minus the DC voltage (VDC), referenced to ground. The first and second resistances 106 and 108 are generally comprised of a number (often a power of two) of smaller resistances. Also, the third and fourth resistances 114 and 116 are often comprised of a number of smaller resistances. For a linear ADC, the number of smaller resistances that define each of the resistances 106, 108, 114, and 116 will generally be equal.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a functional circuit diagram of an alternative differential resistance ladder configuration according to the prior art is presented. The differential resistance ladder includes a positive leg 136 and a negative leg 138, which respectively receive a positive phase and a negative phase of an input signal. The positive leg 136 includes a first voltage source 140 that outputs a voltage equal to the positive phase (V+) of the input signal, referenced to ground. This voltage is applied to a first terminal of a first resistance 142 including resistances 142-1, 142-2, . . . , and 142-N. An opposite terminal of the first resistance 142 communicates with a first terminal of a second resistance 144 including resistances 144-1, 144-2, . . . , and 144-N and with a second voltage source 146. The second voltage source 146 outputs a voltage equal to V+ minus half of a DC voltage (VDC), referenced to ground. An opposite terminal of the second resistance 144 communicates with a third voltage source 148, which outputs a voltage equal to V+ minus VDC, referenced to ground.
The negative leg 138 includes a fourth voltage source 150 that outputs a voltage equal to the negative phase (V−) of the input signal, referenced to ground. The fourth voltage source 150 communicates with a first terminal of a first resistance 152 including resistances 152-1, 152-2, . . . , and 152-N. An opposite terminal of the third resistance 152 communicates with a first terminal of a fourth resistance 154 including resistances 154-1, 154-2, . . . , and 154-N and with a fifth voltage source 156. The fifth voltage source 156 outputs a voltage equal to V− minus VDC/2, referenced to ground. An opposite terminal of the fourth resistance 154 communicates with a sixth voltage source 158, which outputs a voltage equal to V− minus VDC, referenced to ground.
The resistances 142, 144, 152, and 154 are each often composed of a number of smaller resistances (generally an equal number for a linear ADC). The configuration of FIG. 2 is similar to that of FIG. 1, with the addition of the second and fifth voltage sources 146 and 156. The second voltage source 146 is connected to the center node, the node between the first and second resistances 142 and 144. Without the second voltage source 146, the center node would receive the input signal last, being equidistant from the driving voltage sources 140 and 148. The addition of the second voltage source 146 removes delay from this node. The greatest delay is now in the midpoint of the first resistance 142 and the midpoint of the second resistance 144. These midpoints experience only one quarter of the RC delay that the center node had previously, being half as far from the driving voltage sources 140 and 146. The same modification is made to the negative leg 138, adding the fifth voltage source 156 to the node that would otherwise experience the greatest delay.


System, method, and apparatus for controlling performance of an engine in response to a set of outputs from a device to an engine control unit. The engine control unit receives profile parameters that are related to outputs of the device. The engine control unit engages a high performance functionality in response to a first signal. The engine control unit engages a high idle functionality in response to a second signal.

Modern vehicles include engine control units to electronically control series of actuators with of the internal combustion engine within the vehicle. The engine control unit reads values from multiple sensors of the vehicle and interprets the data using multidimensional performance maps and look up tables stored in a profile to determine performance settings that will be used to control the actuators and the performance of the engine. The electronic control unit can control air-fuel mixtures, ignition timing, and the idle speed of the engine.
A problem with modern engine control units is that they cannot be updated while the vehicle is being operated and do not provide simple access to high idle and high performance modes during vehicle operation.

System, method and apparatus for engine control


In the state that a preceding sheet awaits at an awaiting position, a pair of conveying rollers are separated from each other, and the front end of a subsequent sheet sent out from a main conveying path passes the gap between the pair of conveying rollers. Based on a configuration that the distance from the trailing end of the subsequent sheet in the conveying direction to the pair of conveying rollers becomes equal to that from the front end of the preceding sheet to the pair of conveying rollers, the preceding sheet and subsequent sheet are sandwiched by the pair of conveying rollers so as to be conveyed in a first direction, thereby making the sheets into a state that the sheets are put on each other. Thereafter, the sheets are conveyed in a second direction by the pair of conveying rollers, so as to be discharged into discharging unit.

According to printers of this type, a sheet is conveyed along their conveying path, and transaction information is printed on this sheet in their printing unit. This information-printed sheet is discharged into their discharging unit, and then the sheet discharged in the discharging unit is received by a customer.
Incidentally, a plurality of sheets are continuously supplied for printing and then discharged into the discharging unit in some cases. In the cases, the sheets are discharged into the discharging unit in the state that the sheets are put onto each other in order for a customer to receive the sheets easily (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-156406).
However, when the sizes of the sheets put onto each other are different from each other in the prior art, there remains a problem that a customer does not receive the sheets easily since the sheets are discharged into the discharging unit in the state that the discharging side ends thereof are uneven or irregular.


A method for detecting fatigue is provided herein. The present invention includes the following steps: measuring a plurality of physiological feature data from a user in continuous time to generate a feature sequence; computing the rate of drop and/or calculating the difference of the rate of drop based on the feature sequence; and determining the fatigue level of the user by analyzing the rate of drop and the difference of the rate of drop. A fatigue detecting device is also disclosed here. The present invention can be utilized to effectively monitor the fatigue level of the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of detecting fatigue, and more particularly to a method and device for detecting fatigue.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, death from overwork occurs more frequently because of high-pressure work, insufficient rest and lacking regular exercise especially for young adults. Besides, incidence of traffic accidents caused by driver fatigue is increasing. It has gradually become an important issue for industry to develop a method for detecting fatigue level of drivers before driving for preventing traffic accidents.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 7,027,621, it provides a method using infrared imaging of the driver's face and other body parts to assess potential risk so as to send a warning message. U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,702 alternatively provides a device by detecting eye and head movement to judge if vehicle operators are in fatigue. For U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,573, it offers a steering wheel with heart rate sensors arranged thereon and users must grab the steering wheel precisely and tightly to be detected. From those patents described above, precision may be doubted because optical sensors may lose alignment when vehicles are moving; sensors on the steering wheel require users to continuously holding the wheel and thus restrict users' movement. Therefore, a more accurate method must be developed to detect drivers' fatigue level.


Coating adhesion on wooden articles, such as railroad crossties, is improved through use of three surface-treating techniques prior to application of the coating. The first technique involves forming grooves on the surface of the wooden article, the second technique involves exposing the wooden article to heat to reduce the moisture content of the surface of the wooden article, and the third technique involves creating incisions on the surface of the wooden article to further promote adhesion. The techniques may be advantageously used together to further enhance coating adhesion.

The present invention pertains to several techniques for improving coating adhesion to wooden articles, such as railroad crossties, pilings, boat docks, decks, porch and patio flooring, fences, telephone poles, and many other wooden articles of various cross sections.
The present invention is particularly directed to improving coating adhesion for railroad crossties that are coated by a continuous process involving the passage of a series of wooden members, having end caps, in a substantially end-to-end configuration through a crosshead extrusion die. Such process extrudes resinous molten extrudate from a distribution passage into the die opening and around the side surfaces of the wooden member so as to form a coating on the side surfaces.
Various types of railroad crossties are known in the art. Examples of such railroads crossties are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 952,977; 1,036,860; 1,041,736; 1,623,158; and 5,916,932.
The useful life of railroad crossties has been extended by coating a wooden core member with a resinous coating and by placing end caps over the ends of the core member. Such technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,265, granted to Niedermair on Jan. 8, 2002. This patent describes a composite railroad crosstie for supporting railroad track rails on a ballast or concrete roadbed. The crosstie comprises a wooden core of virgin or recycle natural wood or of man-made, engineered wood such as oriented strand board (OSB), plywood, and the like. The wooden core is coated with virgin or recycled thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins, and/or rubber. Fillers or reinforcements may optionally be included. During manufacture, the core member is sized to a dimension less than the desired dimension of the finished crosstie to provide space for the coating. End caps are positioned over the ends of the core member and then a resinous coating is applied to the core member in a continuous process by passing a series of core members, containing end caps, in a substantially end-to-end configuration through a cross head die.
Although the above-described composite crosstie constitutes an improvement over uncoated wooden crossties, problems in coating separation from the core member have been encountered. Such separation serves to reduce the useful life of the railroad crosstie because the beneficial effect of the protective coating is minimized, or even lost. The present invention addresses this problem in the art by treating the surface of the core member prior to coating to substantially improve coating adhesion and thereby achieve a crosstie having an extended useful life. Surface treatments include placing grooves on the surface of the core member and/or driving off moisture from the surface of the core member and/or incising prior to coating the surface of the core member. When used in combination, grooving and incision are normally performed prior to driving off moisture from the surface of the core member, followed by subsequent coating. These techniques serve to significantly improve adhesion between the wooden crosstie and its coating.

Method of manufacture coated wood articles


Data investigations are performed by querying a plurality of data sources. A system receives an investigation input and queries a plurality of data sources in accordance with the received input. The system receives, in response to the querying, response data from the plurality of data sources, and generates and stores a data structure representing relationships between the first investigation input and the first response data. The data structure may be in the form of a knowledge graph. The system may generate and display a visualization of the data structure. The system may generate and store a record of investigation steps used to generate the data structure, such that the investigation steps may be applied in future instances, for example using different inputs, to generate new data structures.

Data investigation tools can be used in a number of industries and fields to glean insights from information about relationships between different entities, organizations, persons, events, and other data. For example, in the cybersecurity space, data investigation tools can allow a cyber-analyst to make decisions about a particular website, IP address, server, network node, or the like, based on information that is available from one or more data sources regarding (or related to) the entity being investigated. Analysts performing investigations based on one or more available data sources may manually correlate information, discern relationships, and gather insights about entities, events, and relationships between said entities and/or events. These investigations may be used to help an analyst identify and characterize cyber-threats, for example.

Data investigation and visualization system


Methods and apparatus for receiving user meeting control for network conferences. In an embodiment, a method for receiving user meeting controls includes transmitting a request to participate in a network conference. The request includes an identifier. The method also includes receiving meeting controls for use during the network conference. The meeting controls are determined from a policy database based on the identifier.

With the increasing popularity of digital electronics and network communications, real-time interactive network conferences (or meetings) have become more popular. For example, network conferencing now allows people to communicate with each other from remote locations to exchange audio and video in real time.
Typically, a meeting host determines meeting controls that are utilized by every meeting participant. For example, the meeting controls enable or disable functions, such as screen sharing or recording functions, which may be performed during a meeting. It may be desirable to restrict the functions that meeting participants can perform to assure meeting security or privacy. Unfortunately, under certain circumstances host-directed meeting controls may be bypassed or avoided. It is therefore desirable to have a mechanism to provide meeting controls that overcomes the problems associated with conventional techniques.

Methods and apparatus for receiving meeting controls for network conferences


A networked input/output memory management unit (IOMMU) includes a plurality of IOMMUs. The networked IOMMU receives a memory access request that includes a domain physical address generated by a first address translation layer. The networked IOMMU selectively translates the domain physical address into a physical address in a system memory using one of the plurality of IOMMUs that is selected based on a type of a device that generated the memory access request. In some cases, the networked IOMMU is connected to a graphics processing unit (GPU), at least one peripheral device, and the memory. The networked IOMMU includes a command queue to receive the memory access requests, a primary IOMMU to selectively translate the domain physical address in memory access requests from the GPU, and a secondary IOMMU to translate the domain physical address in memory requests from the peripheral device.

A platform for a conventional graphics processing system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), one or more system memories (such as a dynamic random access memory, DRAM), and a bus to support communication between these entities. In some cases, the platform is implemented as a system-on-a-chip (SoC). The CPU initiates graphics processing by issuing draw calls to the GPU. In response to receiving a draw call, the GPU renders images for display using a pipeline formed of a sequence of programmable shaders and fixed-function hardware blocks. The system memory in the conventional graphics processing system is partitioned into a first portion that is visible to a host operating system (OS) executing on the graphics processing system and a second portion that is dedicated to the GPU, e.g., to provide a frame buffer. The second portion, which is sometimes referred to as a carveout or a GPU carveout, is not visible to the host OS. A GPU virtual manager (VM), which is managed by a graphics device driver, translates the virtual addresses in memory access requests to physical addresses in the system memory such as physical addresses in the GPU carveout region of the system memory. In some cases, the GPU VM performs the address translation using a corresponding translation lookaside buffer (TLB) that caches frequently requested address translations from a page table.

Networked input/output memory management unit


Geo View is a three-dimensional virtual universe in which a real-world or virtual object may be represented by one or more virtual objects whose attributes are derived from attributes of the real-world object via a flexible user-specifiable mapping. Typically a two-dimensional plane located in three-dimensional space is used to visualize the universe of interest. The placement of virtual objects in the universe typically having a shape is governed by the absolute or relative geographical location of the real-world objects, and also by a flexible set of user-specified layout rules. In addition to the visualisation of various objects, the human observer can attach sounds to objects. The representation of real-world objects with rapidly time-changing attributes may be simplified by the use of Synthetic Strobes, flexible user-specified filters which shift changes in the visual attributes of a shape from one time-domain to another.

Part 1 Shapes Vector
1 Shapes Vector Introduction
Shapes Vector is the name given by the inventors to a particular collection of highly versatile but independent systems that can be used to make real world systems observable by a human operator. By providing an observation system the human may be able to detect using one or more of their senses anomalies and the like in the real world system. More particularly, the invention/s disclosed herein are in the field of information observation and management.