An inkjet printer is provided. The inkjet printer includes: a holder configured to mount thereon an ink cartridge for storing ink; and an imaging unit which obtains an image of a surface of the ink in the ink cartridge mounted on the holder.

An inkjet printer carries out printing by ejecting inks from nozzles onto a recording sheet. A known inkjet printer is configured to mount thereon an ink cartridge storing an ink. Another known inkjet printer is capable of detecting and monitoring a remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge.
JP-A-6-106730 describes an inkjet printer including an inkjet printer body, ink tanks (ink cartridges) which stores inks, respectively, a carriage on which the ink tanks are mounted, and a lever which locates and retains the ink tanks at and on the carriage. Each of the ink tanks is formed of a transparent material such that the inside of the ink tank is viewable from the outside. The lever has an opening formed therethrough. Also, the inkjet printer body has an opening formed therethrough at a position facing the carriage when the carriage is located at a predetermined position out of a recording region, e.g., a home position, during a non-printing time or the like. According to this configuration, even in a state in which the ink tanks are retained to the carriage by the lever, it is possible for a user to visually check remaining amounts of inks in the ink tanks, respectively, through the opening of the inkjet printer body and the opening of the lever.
However, in the above-described inkjet printer, it may be difficult to visually check the remaining amounts of inks via the openings from the outside, depending on the positions of the openings. When the ink tanks are attempted to be provided at a position easily viewable from the outside, the flexibility in layout of the ink tanks in the printer is decreased. Moreover, during printing, because the carriage on which the ink tanks are mounted is away from the home position, it is impossible to check remaining amounts of inks in the ink tanks through the openings. Additionally, it may be not advantageous in appearance that an opening is provided to the printer body, through which an interior of the inkjet printer can always be seen.


A glass gob distributor for delivering gobs of molten glass to sections of a glassware forming machine, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, includes at least one electric motor, a ball screw coupled to the electric motor and a carriage slidable on a carriage shaft and coupled to the ball screw. At least one gear rack is coupled to the carriage and at least one scoop is coupled to the gear rack for rotation around a scoop axis as a function of linear motion of the gear rack and the carriage. A pair of slides are slidably disposed on opposite sides of the carriage and are disconnected from the carriage. A pair of fluid cylinders are disposed adjacent to the slides. The fluid cylinders are responsive to an absence of power at the electric motor for pushing the centering slides toward each other to abut and slidably position the carriage on the carriage shaft, the gear rack and the at least one scoop at a home position. In exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, a plurality of scoops are coupled either to individual associated electric motors through associated gear racks, carriages and ball screws, or are coupled to a single electric motor through one or more gear racks, a single carriage and a single ball screw.

The science of glass container manufacture currently is served by the so-called individual section machine. Such a machine includes a plurality of separate or individual manufacturing sections, each of which has a multiplicity of operating mechanisms for converting one or more charges or gobs of molten glass into hollow glass containers and transferring the containers through successive stages of the machine section. In general, an individual section machine system includes a source of glass for generating one or more streams of molten glass, a shear mechanism for cutting the stream or streams of molten glass into individual gobs, and a gob distributor for distributing the individual gobs among the machine sections. Each machine section includes one or more blank molds in which a glass gob is initially formed in a blowing or pressing operation, one or more transfer mechanisms for transferring the blanks to blow molds in which the containers are blown to final form, a second transfer mechanism for removing the formed containers onto a deadplate, and a third transfer mechanism for transferring the molded containers from the deadplate onto a machine conveyor. A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a glass gob distributor for an individual section machine glassware forming system.
A glass gob distributor for delivering gobs of molten glass to sections of a glassware forming machine, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, includes at least one electric motor, a ball screw coupled to the electric motor, and a carriage slidable on a carriage shaft and coupled to the ball screw. At least one gear rack is coupled to the carriage and at least one scoop is coupled to the gear rack for rotation around a scoop axis as a function of linear motion of the gear rack and the carriage. A pair of slides are slidably disposed on opposite sides of the carriage and are disconnected from the carriage. A pair of fluid cylinders are disposed adjacent to the centering slides. The fluid cylinders are responsive to an absence of power at the electric motor for pushing the slides toward each other to abut and slidably position the carriage on the carriage shaft, the gear rack and the at least one scoop at a home position. In exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, a plurality of scoops are coupled either to individual associated electric motors through associated gear racks, carriages and ball screws, or are coupled to a single electric motor through one or more gear racks, a single carriage and a single ball screw.


An electronic network system for implementing ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) and RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) type communication. ARP type communication is facilitated by including within the ARP response packet an offset address indicating the memory location of the software application that is the subject of the ARP type communication. RARP type communication is facilitated by providing each network node with a network unique ID and using the unique ID when generating RARP requests.

There are many well known protocols for implementing electronic communication in a network. Two such protocols are the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) and the Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP). The ARP and RARP protocols may be used, for example, to implement communications in a network that includes two or more network nodes connected via an electronic bus. An exemplary network is shown in FIG. 1.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, transmissions directed from a first general purpose computer 2 to a second general purpose computer 4 are indicated by an arrow 6. Similarly, communications directed from the second computer to the first computer are indicated by an arrow 8. It should be understood that an electronic bus, such as an IEEE-1394 serial bus, interconnects computers 2 and 4, and is used to channel transmissions between the computers. The transmissions are abstractly represented by arrows 6 and 8. Furthermore, it should be understood that although FIG. 1 shows only two computers, the network represented in FIG. 1 may be made up of more than two computers. FIG. 1 is referenced below for purposes of describing ARP and RARP communication in more detail.
ARP may be used when a first network computer wishes to communicate with a second network computer but does not know the second computer's physical address. For example, computer 2 may wish to communicate with computer 4 but has only computer 4's internet protocol address (or "IP address") and not computer 4's physical address. In accordance with ARP, computer 2 broadcasts an "ARP request" (represented by arrow 6) over the network bus. The request includes the IP address of computer 4. By examining the IP address of the request, computer 4 recognizes that it is the intended recipient of the request. Computer 4 then transmits an "ARP response" (represented by arrow 8), which is addressed to computer 2 and contains computer 4's physical address.
RARP may be used when a network computer wishes to determine its IP address through the network. For example, computer 2, wishing to determine its IP address, broadcasts a "RARP request" (represented by arrow 6) over the network. The RARP request includes the IP address of computer 4, as well as the physical address of computer 2. After computer 4 ascertains that it is the intended recipient of the RARP request--through examination of the IP address--it determines the IP address of computer 2 by cross-referencing computer 2's physical address to computer 2's IP address and then transmits a "RARP response" (represented by arrow 8), which includes the IP address of computer 2.
Both ARP and RARP have drawbacks which limit their effectiveness. In ARP, a requesting node is limited to acquiring the physical address of a target node, and cannot acquire information that would facilitate communication between itself and the target node. In particular, the requesting node cannot acquire the address within the target computer of the application which is the subject of the request. Thus, in FIG. 1 for example, once computer 2 determines the physical address of computer 4, communication between the two computers may proceed, but each time computer 4 receives a communication packet from computer 2, computer 4's processing unit (CPU) must examine the received packet and then forward the packet to an appropriate application within its memory. Moreover, the size of the communication packets is limited in ARP, further limiting flexibility.
A drawback of RARP is its sensitivity to bus resets. When a network bus is reset--such as when the power supply is toggled, or a new device is connected to the network--the physical addresses of the network nodes may change, resulting in the generation of incorrect cross-references by nodes generating RARP responses. Thereby, resulting in the transmission of incorrect IP addresses to requesting nodes.

System using ARP or RARP packet for communicating offset address of an application program and node unique ID of a network node


A trailer hitch which is attached to a vehicle which is towed, such as a trailer, and is used to connect the towed vehicle to a conventional towing ball of a towing vehicle. The trailer hitch of this invention is extendible by the user so as to enable a towed vehicle to be connected to a towing vehicle when the two are approximately aligned, but they need not be precisely aligned.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to hitches for towed vehicles, and more particularly to self-aligning hitches for towed vehicles.
2. Description of Related Art
It is a common challenge for drivers of vehicles which tow another vehicle, such as a boat trailer, utility trailer, or any other type of trailer, to experience difficulties in aligning the towing ball of the towing vehicle with the trailer hitch of the towed vehicle. This problem is lessened when there is a person who can stand within view of the driver of the towing vehicle and use hand signals to direct him to a position in which the towing ball is directly underneath the trailer hitch. Once thus aligned, the tongue of the trailer can be lowered until the trailer hitch descends onto the towing ball, and can be secured in place with a hitch latch. Since the trailer hitch is only slightly larger than the towing ball, this alignment must be relatively precise. This alignment problem is worse when there is no person to direct the backing and alignment of the trailer and the towing vehicle. In such a case, the driver uses side or rear view mirrors and gets the towing vehicle as close to the trailer hitch as possible. This may require many trips from the cab of the towing vehicle back to the trailer hitch to verify the position. If a trailer does not have much weight on its tongue, the driver can often pull the trailer tongue to one side or the other until it is over the towing ball. However, if a trailer hitch is too heavy to move, the towing vehicle must be moved back and forth until the alignment is correct.
A number of attempts have been made to deal with this problem. One way to deal with the problem has been to provide a trailer hitch which moves from side to side and in and out of the trailer tongue, in order to facilitate attachment. Once such a trailer hitch is dropped on to the towing ball, the towing vehicle pulls forward slightly to align the long axis of the trailer with the long axis of the towing vehicle, and then the towing vehicle can move in a reverse direction and push the extendable tongue back into the trailer tongue. Once this is accomplished, the extendable trailer hitch can be locked in place, and the towing vehicle can drive off with the trailer. The problem with this method is that the towing vehicle is utilized to push the extendable hitch back into the trailer tongue. When this occurs, the entire trailer may move backward rather than remain stationary. The user would have to block in back of the trailer wheels so that the trailer would not tend to move backward during this backing-up procedure, due to the friction of steel sliding against steel as the tongue slides back. This would also necessitate carrying blocks for this purpose, and having to stow them somewhere, or else finding rocks or something else with which to block the trailer wheels. The trailer hitch of the invention thus necessitates getting out of a towing vehicle only one time, versus two, three, or more times for the self-aligning trailer hitches of other inventions. Additionally, if the extendable trailer hitch is jointed, the entire weight of the trailer will be placed on the joint. This limits the amount of weight that such a system can accommodate, or it may lead to the premature failure of the joint.
What is needed, then, is a trailer hitch which allows the connection of the towing vehicle to a towed vehicle if the two are merely in approximate alignment. This needs to be done so that the extendable hitch is strong enough to support the weight of the trailer in its extended position. The extendable hitch needs to be adjustable both side to side as well as up in order to connect to the towing ball. Additionally, the extendable trailer hitch needs to be drawn back into the trailer tongue without the need for pushing in reverse by the towing vehicle. Preferably, the towing vehicle would remain stationary while the extendable hitch is retracted into the trailer tongue and secured in place for highway travel.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a self-aligning trailer hitch which extends from a trailer tongue, and moves laterally as well as vertically.
Another object of the invention is to provide a self-aligning trailer hitch with an extendable hitch which does not contain joints as the mechanism for allowing it to move laterally, as well as vertically.
A further object of the invention is to provide a self-aligning trailer hitch which can be extended to connect to a towing ball, and retrieved back into the trailer tongue without the need for pushing it in by the reverse movement of the towing vehicle.
It is a further object of the invention to retract the extendible trailer hitch by the use of a winch, which pulls the extendable trailer hitch into a secure and lockable configuration for towing.
Another object of the invention is to provide a self-aligning trailer hitch which can be completely removed from the trailer on which it is mounted.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description as follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A supercomputer system having at least one server, a plurality of compute clients and a distributed file system. The server is configured to distribute computation tickets and each compute client is configured to request a computation ticket. The distributed file system is configured to stock input data for all tasks and output data produced by the compute clients. The supercomputer system is characterized in that it further includes at least one I/O client configured to exchange data with each compute client and with the distributed file system, to distribute input data to at least some of the compute clients or to collect output data produced by at least some of the compute clients.

In the art, a supercomputer system is usually formed using a large number of compute nodes connected one to another by a computer network.
A Client/Server model is a well-known technology which can be implemented in an HPC system. It has an advantage to present a high availability of the service. In the HPC systems, this model is implemented using compute nodes to ensure the execution of different computation tasks.
Particularly, according to this model, at least some of the compute nodes form a server able to manage the tasks execution performed by a plurality of clients formed by the other nodes.
When a client is available to execute a task, it is able to request from the server a ticket which defines a specific task. Upon receiving such request, the server sends to the client a ticket defining a task to be executed by the client.
To execute the task, the client needs to read input data from a specified file storage system and after the task execution, to write produced output data to such system. After, the output data produced by several clients, can be post-processed according to the final destination of this data.
The process of reading input data and writing output data by the nodes is known in the art as I/O processing.
Contrary to a classical computer network using for example a specific server to stock all data used in the network, the HPC systems use generally a distributed file system for data storage.
Such distributed file system is formed by several compute nodes and uses a specific network protocol to give to the client access to data.
A large number of distributed file systems are known in the art. Among these systems, one can recite Lustre File System or General Parallel File System (known as GPFS).
The performances of an HPC system depend notably on the computing power of the compute nodes forming the system. According to the Moore's law, this power doubles approximately every 18 months.
However, the computing power is not the only criterion defining the performances of an HPC system. Particularly, the speed rate of the I/O processing should also be considered.
Indeed, comparing to the computing power growing, the speed rate of the I/O processing grows much slower.
Hence, in the actual HPC systems, data processing is slowed down rather by the I/O processing than by the computing power.

Supercomputer system, method of data transmission in such supercomputer system and associated computer program product


A system and method of providing relevant sales context information that would enable vendors to reduce cost of operations, increase productivity of their mobile sales forces, and drive improved efficiencies throughout. Mobile sales force representatives can utilize a handheld computing device for reviewing relevant customer sales information prior to a sales visit; for training and other purposes during a sales visit; and inputting new customer sales information during or after a sales visit, which can then be uploaded to a server over a wireless network for future use. The handheld device can communicate with a server to download the customer information onto the handheld device and to upload from the handheld device current customer information data obtained from a customers sales visit to a server. The server can transmit the current customer information data to multiple sales force representatives who can utilize that information in the sales environment.

In the conventional sales environment, companies employ large numbers of salespeople to promote and sell their products in particular territories and regions. These mobile sales force representatives can be responsible for hundreds and possibly thousands of customers. Furthermore, while not only handling existing customers' accounts, mobile sales force representatives are continuously encouraged by their employers to increase sales and add new accounts. The ability for a mobile sales force representative to balance the workload and be an efficient salesperson can be extremely difficult.
To assist their sales force, companies maintain large amounts of information about their products and their customers so they can pass it along to their sales force. In a typical sales context, a mobile sales force representative can access this information by contacting a technician at a call center run by the company. This information consists of details about new products, the particular customer's historical information, and other relevant sales information. This type of system can be inefficient as the vendor has to spend money to employ individuals to monitor the calls and the mobile sales force representatives are spending valuable time on the phone trying to collect what can amount to a large volume of information about a product and/or customer.
Another problem that currently plagues mobile sales force representatives is the managing of customer communications. For large customers that buy and sell huge volumes of products, multiple mobile sales force representatives may be necessary to handle the customer's demands. Therefore, it is not uncommon for certain tasks to be performed multiple times or not at all, as the mobile sales force representatives have difficulty in determining what the other representatives are doing or have done with regard to a particular customer.
In addition, for both sales and customer communications information, there is a delay on how quickly this information is fed back into the company's databases. In a conventional approach, the mobile sales force representatives are required to complete written reports or checklists summarizing client meeting or filling out purchase orders for new sales orders. In turn, this information must be phoned in, mailed, or hand-delivered back to the company in order for them to enter the information into the appropriate databases. Especially for customer comments, this information may not be available until after a subsequent customer contact; therefore, leading to continued inefficiencies in supporting the customer's demands.
Furthermore, mobile sales force representatives have typically been hesitant when it comes to adopting new technological innovations to assist them in their jobs. Many mobile sales force representatives either ignore technology innovations all together and rely on their own skill or they become frustrated when they must adapt to working with multiple devices such as cell phones, laptops, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDA), etc.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a system and method of providing relevant sales context information that would enable vendors to reduce cost of operations, increase productivity of their mobile sales forces, and drive improved efficiencies throughout.

System and method for facilitating sales utilizing customer relationship management technology


An exemplary bearing assembly includes a turbine side journal bearing with helical grooves along an inner journal surface where each helical groove includes a lubricant opening and opposing arms where each arm terminates at a respective axial surface of the journal bearing; a compressor side journal bearing with helical grooves along an inner journal surface where each helical groove includes a lubricant opening and opposing arms where each arm terminates at a respective axial surface of the journal bearing; and a spacer to space the turbine side journal bearing and the compressor side journal bearing along an axis. Various other exemplary devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

A conventional turbocharger typically relies on a center housing rotating assembly (CHRA) that includes a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel attached to a shaft rotatably supported in a center housing by one or more bearings. During operation, and directly after operation, heat energy from various sources can cause components to reach temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (538 degrees Celsius). Sources of heat energy include viscous shearing of lubricant films (e.g., lubricant between a rotating shaft and a bearing surface), viscous heating of inlet gas, exhaust heat, frictional heating, etc. Factors such as mass of the rotating components, lubricant properties, rotational speeds, etc., can affect heat generation.
High temperatures can cause carbonization of carbonaceous lubricants (e.g., oil), also known as coke formation or "coking". Coking can exasperate heat generation and heat retention by any of a variety of mechanisms and, over time, coke deposits can shorten the lifetime of a lubricated bearing system. For example, coke deposits can reduce bearing system clearances to a point where seizure occurs (e.g., between a bearing and a shaft), which results in total failure of the bearing system and turbocharger. Such phenomenon should be considered during development of turbochargers that operate at high rotational speeds or in high temperature environments and turbochargers with high mass rotating components. For example, use of high strength materials like titanium (e.g., titanium compressor wheels) for rotating components can increase mass of a rotating assembly and thus heat generation.
Various exemplary techniques described herein can reduce coking and, in general, reduce local maximum operational temperatures of a turbocharger's rotating assembly.
Turbochargers are frequently utilized to increase output of an internal combustion engine. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional system 100 includes an internal combustion engine 110 and a turbocharger 120. The internal combustion engine 110 includes an engine block 118 housing one or more combustion chambers that operatively drive a shaft 112. As shown in FIG. 1, an intake port 114 provides a flow path for air to the engine block 118 while an exhaust port 116 provides a flow path for exhaust from the engine block 118.
The turbocharger 120 acts to extract energy from the exhaust and to provide energy to intake air, which may be combined with fuel to form combustion gas. As shown in FIG. 1, the turbocharger 120 includes an air inlet 134, a shaft 122, a compressor 124, a turbine 126, a housing 128 and an exhaust outlet 136. The housing 128 may be referred to as a center housing as it is disposed between the compressor 124 and the turbine 126. The shaft 122 may be a shaft assembly that includes a variety of components.
Referring to the turbine 126, such a turbine optionally includes a variable geometry unit and a variable geometry controller. The variable geometry unit and variable geometry controller optionally include features such as those associated with commercially available variable geometry turbochargers (VGTs). Commercially available VGTs include, for example, the GARRETT® VNT™ and AVNT™ turbochargers, which use multiple adjustable vanes to control the flow of exhaust across a turbine. An exemplary turbocharger may employ wastegate technology as an alternative or in addition to variable geometry technology.
FIG. 2 shows several cross-sections of a prior art turbocharger assembly 200 suitable for use in the turbocharger 120 of FIG. 1. The cross-sections include a cross-section of a center housing rotating assembly, a cross-section through the assembly at along a line A-A and a close-up cross-section of the bearing system 230. In a cylindrical coordinate system, a bearing and center housing features may be defined with respect to radial, azimuthal (angular) and axial coordinates (e.g., r, Θ, z, respectively).
The assembly 200 serves as a non-limiting example to describe various exemplary devices, methods, systems, etc., disclosed herein. The turbocharger 200 includes a center housing 210, a shaft 220, a compressor wheel 240 and a turbine wheel 260 where the compressor wheel 240 and the turbine wheel 260 are operably connected to the shaft 220.
The shaft 220 may be made of multiple components that form a single operable shaft unit or it may be a unitary shaft. The compressor wheel 240, the turbine wheel 260 and the shaft 220 have an axis of rotation substantially coincident with the z-axis. The center housing 210 supports a bearing system 230 that receives the shaft 220 and allows for rotation of the shaft 220 about the z-axis.
The compressor wheel 240 includes a hub 242 and a plurality of blades 244. The hub 242 terminates at a nose end 246, which may be shaped to facilitate attachment of the compressor wheel 240 to the shaft 220. The turbine wheel 260 includes a hub 262 and a plurality of blades 264. The hub 262 terminates at a nose end 266, which may be shaped to facilitate attachment of the turbine wheel 260 to the shaft 220.
The shaft 220 includes a compressor shaft portion that extends into a bore of the compressor wheel hub 242. While the example of FIG. 2 shows a "boreless" compressor wheel (i.e., no through bore), other types of compressor wheels may be used. For example, a compressor wheel with a through bore or full bore typically receives a shaft that accepts a nut or other attachment mechanism at the nose end 246 of the hub 242. Such an attachment mechanism may include features to accept a socket or a wrench (e.g., consider a hexagonal shape).
In general, a bore is a cylindrical hole having a diameter (or radius) as well as a length along an axis. For example, a bore may be manufactured using a drill with an appropriate drill bit where the drill and drill bit may be selected based on the type of material to be drilled. For example, where the compressor wheel 260 is made of aluminum, a manufacturing process will specify a drill and drill bit as well as drill rotational speed and axial motion for drilling a bore in aluminum. Drilling may occur prior to, during and/or after assembly of a center housing rotating assembly. Access to one or more surfaces for drilling may vary depending on the stage of assembly.
In FIG. 2, the center housing 210 includes a through bore 215 (for receipt of the bearing cartridge 230), a lubricant inlet bore 218 for forming a lubricant inlet 270 and a transverse lubricant bore 219 for forming a lubricant distribution path to a bore 211 that extends to a groove 212 at the through bore 215 and another lubricant distribution path that extends to a groove 214 at the through bore 215. The respective grooves 212, 214 may be less than a full circle (i.e., less than 360 degrees) as defined by an angle ΘB about the axis of the bore 215. The cross-section of the bearing system 230 along the line A-A (turbine side) shows the angle ΘB, which may be the same for the compressor side (see description below with respect to flow and coking). As shown in FIG. 2, the through bore 215 may vary in diameter or radius, for example, the through bore 215 steps to a larger radius that defines a mid-section disposed between its turbine end and compressor end.
The lubricant inlet bore 218 and the transverse lubricant bore 219 are formed by drilling the center housing 210 from respective outer surfaces (e.g., a top surface and a frontal or compressor side surface). The transverse lubricant bore 219 also supplies lubricant to the compressor side thrust collar. The bearing lubricant grooves 212, 214 may be formed by drilling the center housing 210 by accessing the through bore 215 via a turbine end and/or the compressor end of the center housing 210.
The housing 210 further includes intermediate lubricant outlets 276, 277 and 278 and a lubricant outlet 279. In general, lubricant flows through the center housing 210 under pressure, which may be partially facilitated by gravity (e.g., lubricant inlet 270 and lubricant outlet 279 may be substantially aligned with gravity) where upon shut down, gravity causes at least some draining of lubricant from the center housing 210.
In the arrangement of FIG. 2, during operation, lubricant flows to the bearing system 230 and forms various films. The close-up cross-section of the bearing system 230 shows a turbine side bearing 232, a compressor side bearing 232′ and a bearing spacer 236. Films that form between the through bore 215 and the bearings 232, 232′ and the bearing spacer 236 allow these components to "float" in the through bore 215.
As shown in the close-up cross-section of the bearing system 230, the shaft 220 has a turbine side portion 222 that cooperates with the turbine side bearing 232 (via bearing inner surface 235 and shaft surface 223), a compressor side portion 222′ that cooperates with the compressor side bearing 232′ (via bearing inner surface 235′ and shaft surface 223′) and a portion 224 (having surface 221) disposed between the turbine side portion 222 and the compressor side portion 222′. The compressor side of the assembly 230 is used to describe functional features in more detail, noting that the turbine side includes the same functional features.
The compressor portion 222′ of the shaft 220 includes the journal surface 223′ set at a journal surface radius and the compressor side bearing 232′ includes the corresponding inner surface 235′ set at a compressor bearing inner surface radius (e.g., bearing inner diameter "ID"). On the compressor side, lubricant enters the bearing 232′ at an opening 233′, which is fed primarily by the bearing lubricant path defined, in part, by the bearing lubricant bore 211 and the groove 212. During operation, heat energy causes heating of the lubricant, which in turn may cause coke formation (e.g., from reactants, intermediates, products, impurities, etc.). Coke may deposit on any of a variety of surfaces. For example, coke may deposit on the shaft 220 and/or the bearing 232′ and diminish clearance between the journal surface 223′ of the shaft portion 232′ and bearing inner surface 235′. Alternatively, or in addition to, coke may deposit in the opening 233′ and hinder flow of lubricant to the shaft 220. In such examples, coke may cause a reduction in heat transfer and an increase heat generation, which may lead to failure of the bearing system.
In the arrangement of FIG. 2, the bearing spacer 236 includes an outer surface 238 disposed at an outer surface radius, an inner surface 239 disposed at an inner surface radius, a pair of openings 237, 237′, turbine side end notches 241 and compressor side end notches 241′. The entire bearing system 230 may rotate in the through bore 215 of the center housing 210 and the individual bearing system components 232, 232′ and 236 may rotate with respect to each other. These components typically rotate at some fraction of the rotational speed of the shaft 220 (e.g., spacer rpm about ⅛ of shaft rpm, bearing rpm about ¼ of shaft rpm). Hence, the relationship between the bearing lubricant grooves 212, 214 of the center housing 210 and the openings 233, 233′ of the journal bearings 232, 232′ may change during operation of the center housing rotating assembly (CHRA). However, the arrangement of the grooves 212, 214 of the through bore 215 ensures that at least one bearing opening (see, e.g., openings 233, 233′) of each bearing can receive lubricant, regardless of the rotational relationship between the center housing 210 and the bearings 232, 232′. In the example of FIG. 2, the bearings 232, 232′ are each shown as having four openings set at an axial dimension (e.g., centered between opposing axial ends) and spaced azimuthally 90 degrees apart.
As mentioned, coke formation can cause failure or shorten the life of a bearing system. Chemical reactions responsible for coke formation depend on temperature and time. For example, lubricant that reaches a high temperature for a short time may form coke and lubricant that reaches a lesser temperature for a longer time may form coke. An exemplary journal bearing includes lubricant flow paths defined by grooves that, when compared to the conventional journal bearing 232, can help reduce local temperature maxima of lubricant and/or help reduce residence time of lubricant adjacent a rotating shaft. As described below, an exemplary bearing can provide for increased volume of lubricant adjacent a lubricant film, increased volumetric flow of lubricant in and/or adjacent a lubricant film or a combination of increased volume of lubricant adjacent a lubricant film and increased volumetric flow of lubricant in and/or adjacent a lubricant film.
Exemplary bearings may be used in turbochargers that include a titanium compressor wheel and/or a heavy rotor. Such turbochargers are known to require so-called "high capacity" bearings to support the rotor mass and provide stable operation. Such turbochargers tend to have bearing systems that run much hotter as a result of their high load capacity. High shaft temperatures can cause coking of lubricant where coke buildup on the shaft and the bearings can lead to a loss of bearing internal clearances which ultimately leads to failure of the bearing system.
Various exemplary bearings are shown as floating bearings. While semi-floating bearing systems have been used to address high loads, semi-floating bearings tend to require quite high lubricant flow rates and are generally quite expensive (e.g., may increase bearing system cost by a factor exceeding 10:1). Further, semi-floating bearing systems tend to exhibit high shaft motion for a turbocharger mounted on an internal combustion engine (i.e., a high vibration environment).

Helical inner diameter groove journal bearing


An adapter device is adapted to a camera lens, including a stationary ring and a focus ring rotatably attached to the stationary ring. The adapter device is provided with a first ring which is arranged to be fixed to the stationary ring of the camera lens. A second ring is rotatably attached to the first ring and is arranged to be fixed to the focus ring of the camera lens. A click stop mechanism is provided between the first ring and second ring, for click-stopping the second ring at a prescribed angular position. The click stop mechanism includes a plurality of click grooves formed on the inner peripheral surface of the second ring, a click member provided to the outer peripheral surface of the first ring, which is capable of fitting into the click groove, and a leaf spring for urging the click member into the click groove.

The present invention relates to an adapter device which can be detachably attached to a camera lens and can apply a click feeling to an operator when a photographing magnification is set.
Conventionally, a macro lens which is capable of close-up photographing is known. This type of macro lens employs a stationary ring, a focus ring rotatably connected to the stationary ring, and a sliding ring in which a focus lens is held and movable along an optical axis of the focus lens. The focus ring and sliding ring are coupled by a helicoid construction for moving the sliding ring in the optical axis upon rotation of the focus ring.
In the conventional macro lens, a slip off phenomenon of the focus point occurs due to the slight rotation of a focus ring after an indication has been matched to a prescribed value of the photographing magnification scale by rotating the focus ring. As a result, it has been troublesome to adjust the magnification scale, and an adjusting error tends to occur. Once the adjusting error has occurred, a scattering of the photographing magnification happens in the case of clinical photographing, for example, photographing the front of a row of teeth in the mouth of human being. Accordingly, the precise comparison and/or judgment to the clinical photograph which is photographed by using the macro lens becomes difficult.
It should be noted that a camera lens, where a click stop mechanism is integrally installed into a lens body of the camera lens is known, thereby enabling a click stop in a prescribed magnification. However, the camera lens integrally equipped with the click stop mechanism is very expensive because of such exclusive use, is very troublesome in operation of setting the prescribed magnification, and is not suitable for so-called mass production.


A system that facilitates generation of data that can be employed in connection with training a classifier. The system comprises a component that receives a data set that is employed in connection with training the classifier, and an expansion component that applies elastic distortion algorithm(s) to a subset of the data set to generate additional labeled training data.

Computers have become an integral part of society. Every day people become more dependent on computers to facilitate both work and leisure activities. A significant drawback to computing technology is its "digital" nature as compared to the "analog" world in which it functions. Computers operate in a digital domain that requires discrete states to be identified in order for information to be processed. In simple terms, information generally must be input into a computing system with a series of "on" and "off" states (e.g., binary code). However, humans live in a distinctly analog world where occurrences are never completely black or white, but always seem to be in between shades of gray. Thus, a central distinction between digital and analog is that digital requires discrete states that are disjunct over time (e.g., distinct levels) while analog is continuous over time. As humans naturally operate in an analog fashion, computing technology has evolved to alleviate difficulties associated with interfacing humans to computers (e.g., digital computing interfaces) caused by the aforementioned temporal distinctions.
Handwriting, speech, and object recognition technologies have progressed dramatically in recent times, thereby enhancing effectiveness of digital computing interface(s). Such progression in interfacing technology enables a computer user to easily express oneself and/or input information into a system. As handwriting and speech are fundamental to a civilized society, these skills are generally learned by a majority of people as a societal communication requirement, established long before the advent of computers. Thus, no additional learning curve for a user is required to implement these methods for computing system interaction.
Effective handwriting, speech, and/or object recognition systems can be utilized in a variety of business and personal contexts to facilitate efficient communication between two or more individuals. For example, an individual at a conference can hand-write notes regarding information of interest, and thereafter quickly create a digital copy of such notes (e.g., scan the notes, photograph the notes with a digital camera, . . . ). A recognition system can be employed to recognize individual characters and/or words, and convert such handwritten notes to a document editable in a word processor. The document can thereafter be emailed to a second person at a distant location. Such a system can mitigate delays in exchanging and/or processing data, such as difficulty in reading an individual's handwriting, waiting for mail service, typing notes into a word processor, etc.
Conventional handwriting, speech, and/or object recognition systems and/or methodologies typically utilize one or more programs that are customized for particular actions and/or applications. For example, a customized program for determining identification of a particular character could employ a plurality of functions that search for particular features in order to identify such character. A program that identifies a "d" can first determine that a line of particular height exists, and thereafter determine that a single loop left of the line is present to facilitate identifying the "d". While such customized programs have improved over time, empirical data suggests that statistical systems and/or methods outperform such customized programs.
Previously, statistical methods have not been employed in handwriting, speech, and/or object recognition systems due to limits in processing speed, bandwidth, and storage area, as effective statistical systems and/or methods utilized to recognize handwriting, speech, and/or objects require a substantial amount of labeled data to train a learning algorithm. As advances in technology have alleviated concerns regarding computing limits, an increase in popularity of statistical systems and/or methods has occurred. However, collecting labeled data utilized to train a learning algorithm employed in statistical recognition systems and/or methods remains a tedious and expensive task. For example, several instances of a same character must be collected and labeled as such character in order to effectively train a learning algorithm.
In view of at least the above, there exists a strong need in the art for a system and/or methodology to facilitate generating labeled data to train a learning algorithm employed in a statistical handwriting, speech, and/or object recognition system and/or method.

Elastic distortions for automatic generation of labeled data


A vehicle includes an engine, dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and controller. The controller executes a method to detect a requested power-on downshift of the DCT from an attained gear to a desired gear. Offgoing and oncoming clutches are identified for the power-on downshift from the input clutches, and the controller determines whether engine speed has reached a target synchronous speed. The controller increases oncoming clutch torque at a calibrated ramp rate when a fork for the desired gear has engaged and releases the offgoing clutch at another calibrated ramp rate. If engine flare is present, the controller adjusts the oncoming clutch ramp rate, uses engine torque management to control the flare, and allows the offgoing clutch to continue disengaging. The power-on downshift is completed when the oncoming clutch reaches full torque capacity of the engine and the offgoing clutch is completely exhausted.

A dual-clutch transmission (DCT) combines certain features of manual and automatic transmissions. In a DCT, a first input clutch is applied along with a particular gear fork and synchronizer to engage an oddly-numbered gear of a gearbox, i.e., 1st gear, 3rd gear, 5th gear, etc. A separate second input clutch is applied with a different gear fork and synchronizer to engage an even gear such as 2nd gear, 4th gear, 6th gear, and the like. A transmission control module predicts a desired gear using various available control inputs, for instance engine acceleration and vehicle braking levels. The transmission control module then commands engagement of the particular gear fork used for the desired gear, with gear fork engagement occurring prior to engagement of the input clutch needed for the desired gear. Due to its unique construction, a DCT may provide faster shift speeds relative to those of a conventional automatic transmission, with improved overall shift control and increased post-shift power.

Power-on downshift control of a dual-clutch transmission


A level shifter circuit is implemented with dual gate fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) technology. By enhancing the performance of the NMOS and devices within the level shifting circuit, the Vt of the dual gate FDSOI NMOS transistors is lowered without a need for additional control circuitry. Lowering the Vt can be accomplished through dynamic secondary gate control, by coupling together primary and secondary gates of the NMOS devices, while secondary gates of the PMOS devices can be coupled to a high voltage supply level. Such high performance NMOS devices can then operate at higher frequencies and run on a much wider range of core power supplies. Meanwhile, conventional DC conditions are maintained during steady state operation. Because no components are added to the level shifter circuit, the higher performance is achieved without an increase in size and current consumption.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to the design of integrated level shifter circuits that are operable at more than one power supply voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some integrated circuits (ICs) are designed to operate at two different supply voltages—a first supply voltage for core functions, and a second supply voltage for interfacing functions. Typically, the second supply voltage is higher than the first supply voltage, because interface circuits normally operate at a higher voltage level than the core of the IC. A higher supply voltage level at the I/O pads is desirable to drive large electrical loads at optimum speed. A lower voltage supply level at the core enables use of advanced transistors that have thinner gate oxide. For such ICs to be used in, and to communicate with, external systems whose power supply voltages are higher, there is a need for voltage level matching by input-output (I/O) interface circuits within the IC. For such circuits that use at least two supply voltages, it is generally desirable for the core voltage supply to be shifted to a higher level to interface with external integrated circuits. A level shifter circuit can be used to translate the low voltage level signals to higher voltage level signals. Examples of existing level shifter circuits are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,100 to Dharne et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,963,226 to Chiang.
It has been observed that, when operating at lower core voltages, the core operating voltage may fail to exceed the threshold voltage, Vt, of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors, and as a result, the MOS devices do not turn on. In addition, at lower core voltages, if the MOS device does turn on, the transition from the off state to the on state occurs slowly, and thus the frequency of operation is reduced, or the device may even fail to function. In response to such problems, several level-shifting techniques were developed to reduce the Vt of NMOS devices in particular, and to adjust their operation frequency as well as incorporating a lower core supply voltage. However, conventional solutions have relied on the introduction of additional control circuitry into the level shifting circuit, which tends to increase the footprint of the circuit on an IC chip.

Wide range core supply compatible level shifter circuit


A method for a user equipment, a method for a network equipment, a user equipment and a network equipment is disclosed. The network equipment transmits a signal pertaining to if control information is present in a first time period while the user equipment determines if a signal pertaining to control information is present in a first time period. The network equipment transmits control information to a UE in accordance with the transmitted signal while the user equipment decides whether to attempt to decode the control information depending on the determination.

3GPP are specifying and developing technologies to cover Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and/or Internet of Things (IoT) related use cases. For 3GPP Release 13 it includes enhancements to support Machine-Type Communications (MTC) with a new UE category M1 (Cat-M1), supporting reduced maximum bandwidth of up to 6 physical resource blocks (PRBs), and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) work item specifying a new radio interface (and UE category NB1, Cat-NB1).
We will refer to the LTE enhancements introduced in 3GPP Release 13 for MTC as "eMTC", and the further enhancements introduced in 3GPP Release 14 as "FeMTC" including but not limited to support for bandwidth limited UEs, Cat-M1, Cat-M2, and support for coverage enhancements. This is to separate discussion from NB-IoT, although the supported features are similar on a general level.
There are multiple differences between "legacy" LTE, e.g. a Release 8 user equipment and the procedures and channels defined for eMTC or FeMTC work (likewise for NB-IoT). Some important differences include a new physical downlink control channel, called MPDCCH used in eMTC and NPDCCH used in NB-IoT.
At the 3GPP RAN#70 meeting, a Release 13 work item named Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) was approved. The objective is to specify a radio access for cellular internet of things (IoT) that addresses improved indoor coverage, support for massive number of low throughput devices, delay tolerant applications, ultra-low device cost, low device power consumption and (optimized) network architecture.
For NB-IoT, three different operation modes are defined, i.e., stand-alone, guard-band, and in-band. In stand-alone mode, the NB-IoT system is operated in dedicated frequency bands. For in-band operation, the NB-IoT system can be placed inside the frequency bands used by the current LTE system, while in the guard-band mode, the NB-IoT system can be operated in the guard band used by the current (legacy) LTE system. NB-IoT can operate with a system bandwidth of 180 kHz. When multiple carriers are configured, several 180 kHz carriers can be used, e.g., for increasing the system capacity, inter-cell interference coordination, load balancing, etc.
In order to adapt to certain use cases that require more capacity than usual, e.g., software or firmware upgrade, multi-carrier operations are used. The NB-IoT device listens to the system information on the anchor carrier, but when there is data, the communication can be moved to a secondary carrier.
In 3GPP RAN#75 meeting, a further N B-IoT enhancement Release 15 work item was agreed, see RP-170852, as working agreement to further enhance the performance of NB-IoT in terms of further latency and power consumption reduction, improvement of measurement accuracy, enhancement of NPRACH reliability and range enhancement, etc. In addition, further latency and power consumption reduction is one of the objectives as follows.
Further latency and power consumption reduction:                Power consumption reduction for physical channels                    Study and, if found beneficial, specify for idle mode paging and/or connected mode DRX, physical signal/channel that can be efficiently decoded or detected prior to decoding NPDCCH/NPDSCH. [RAN1, RAN2, RAN4]            Study and, if found beneficial, support UL/DL semi-persistent scheduling. [RAN2, RAN1, RAN4]                        Evaluate power consumption/latency gain and specify necessary support for DL/UL data transmission on a dedicated resource during the Random Access procedure after NPRACH transmission and before the RRC connection setup is completed. [RAN2, RAN1, RAN3]        Consider further enhancement of quick release of RRC connection after the last data transmission[RAN2]        Relaxed monitoring for cell reselection [RAN2, RAN4]                    Enable relaxed UE monitoring for cell (re)selection e.g. by (re)configuration                        Support for physical layer SR [RAN1, RAN2]        Support for RLC UM in addition to Rel-14 SC-PTM support [RAN2]
Similar objectives are also given in the Even further enhanced MTC for LTE work item as follows in RP-170732.
Improved power consumption:                Power consumption reduction for physical channels                    Study and, if found beneficial for idle mode paging and/or connected mode DRX, specify physical signal/channel that can be efficiently decoded or detected prior to decoding the physical downlink control/data channel.            Study and, if found beneficial for connected mode, specify physical signal/channel/DCI for HARQ-ACK feedback in DL for data transmission in UL.                        Relaxed monitoring for cell reselection                    Enable relaxed UE monitoring for cell (re)selection e.g. by (re)configuration.                        Support efficient transition between CE mode and non-CE for non-BL UE                    Enable CE mode operation (i.e., narrowband/wideband) for power saving purposes.            This work is started after RAN#76 if the work is not completed already in Rel-14.

Signaling indication to reduce power consumption for MTC devices


A TFT array substrate has a substrate with a pixel region and a switching region. A gate line has both a gate electrode that extends into the switching region and a gate pad is formed on the substrate. A gate pad electrode is formed on the gate pad. A data line includes both a source electrode that extends from the data line into the switching region and a data pad. A data pad electrode is formed on the data pad. A drain electrode that is spaced apart from the source electrode is over the gate electrode. A gate insulation layer covers the gate electrode and the substrate. Semiconductor layers, including a pure amorphous silicon layer and a doped amorphous silicon layer, and a protection layer extends over the source electrode, over the silicon layers, and over part of the drain electrode. A pixel electrode is formed on the pixel region. The pixel electrode contacts a side portion of the drain electrode. The TFT array substrate is fabricated using a back exposure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and more particularly, to a LCD device having thin film transistors (TFTs) and to a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device displays an image using a plurality of pixels. An LCD device that uses thin film transistors (TFTs) as switching elements is typically called a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) device.
A liquid crystal display device uses the optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystal molecules. Because of their peculiar characteristics liquid crystal molecules have a definite orientational order in arrangement. The arrangement direction of liquid crystal molecules can be controlled by an applied electric field. In other words, when electric fields are applied to liquid crystal molecules, the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules changes. Since incident light is refracted according to the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules, due to the optical anisotropy of liquid crystal molecules, image data can be displayed.
An active matrix LCD (AM-LCD) has its thin film transistors (TFTs) and pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix. Such LCDs can have high resolution and superior imaging of moving images.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. As shown in FIG. 1, the LCD panel 20 has lower and upper substrates 2 and 4 with a liquid crystal layer 10 interposed therebetween. The lower substrate 2, which is referred to as an array substrate, has a TFT. "S" as a switching element that changes the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. A pixel electrode 14 applies a voltage to the liquid crystal layer 10 according to the state of the TFT "S". The upper substrate 4 has a color filter 8 for implementing a color and a common electrode 12 on the color filter 8. The common electrode 12 serves as an electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer 10. The pixel electrode 14 is arranged over a pixel portion "P", of a display area. Further, to prevent leakage of the liquid crystal layer 10, the two substrates 2 and 4 are sealed using a sealant 6.
FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an array substrate. A gate line 22 is arranged in a transverse direction and a data line 24 is arranged in perpendicular to the gate line 22. A pixel region having a pixel electrode 14 is defined by the gate line 22 and the data line 24.
In an AM-LCD, the switching element (TFT "S") that selectively applies the voltage to the liquid crystal layer 10 (see FIG. 1) is formed near the crossing of the gate line 22 and the data line 24. The TFT "S" has a gate electrode 26 that is extended from the gate line 22, a source electrode 28 that is extended from the data line 24, and a drain electrode 30 that is electrically connected to the pixel electrode 14 via a contact hole 31.
A gate pad 21 is formed at one end of the gate line 22, and a data pad 23 is formed at one end of the data line 24. The gate and data pads 21 and 23 are electrically connected with external drive circuitry (not shown) that operates the TFT "S" and thus the pixel electrode 14. The gate line 22 and the pixel electrode 14 form a storage capacitor "Cst" which stores electric charges.
When the gate line 22 receives gate signals, the TFT "S" turns ON. The information on the data line 24 is then applied to the pixel electrode 14. The applied electric field from the pixel electrode 14 then changes the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal molecules, causing the liquid crystal molecules to refract the light generated by a back light device. When the gate line 22 turns the TFT "S" to the OFF-state, data signals are not transmitted to the pixel electrode 14. In this case, the arrangement of the liquid crystal is not changed, and thus the direction of the light from back light device is not changed.
When fabricating a liquid crystal panel, a number of complicated process steps are required. In particular, the TFT array substrate requires numerous mask processes. Each mask process requires a photolithography process. Thus, to reduce cost and manufacturing time, the number of mask processes should be minimized.
In general, a manufacturing process depends on the materials used and on the design goals. For example, the resistivity of the material used for the gate lines and the data lines impacts the picture quality of large LCD panels (over 12 inches) and of LCD panels having high resolution. With such LCD panels, a material such as Aluminum (Al) or Al-alloy is often used for the gate lines and the data lines.
In LCD devices having a high aperture ratio, a method of back exposure is employed when forming the pixel electrode 14. That method will now be explained.
FIGS. 3A to 3E are cross-sectional views taken along line III-III and illustrate the process steps of fabricating a conventional TFT array substrate for an active matrix LCD device.
An inverted staggered type TFT is generally used due to its simple structure and superior efficiency. The inverted staggered type TFT can be classified as either a back channel etched type (EB) and an etch stopper type (ES), depending on the fabrication method that is used. The fabrication method of the back channel etched type TFT will now be explained.
A first metal layer is deposited on a substrate 1 by a sputtering process. The substrate previously underwent a cleaning process to enhance adhesion between the substrate 1 and the first metal layer. That cleaning process removes organic materials and alien substances from the substrate.
FIG. 3A shows a step of forming a gate electrode 26 by patterning the first metal layer. The gate electrode 26 is usually Aluminum, which reduces the RC delay owing to a low resistance. However, pure Aluminum may result in line defects caused by formation of hillocks during a subsequent high temperature process. Thus, an Aluminum alloy or another material is beneficially used.
Referring to FIG. 3B, a gate insulation layer 50 is formed over the surface of the substrate 1 and over the gate electrode 26. Then, a pure amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) layer and a doped amorphous silicon (n+ a-Si:H) layer are formed in sequence on the gate insulation layer 50, and then patterned to form an active layer 52 and an ohmic contact layer 54. The ohmic contact layer 54 reduces the contact resistance between the active layer 52 and electrodes that will be formed later.
As depicted in FIG. 3C, source and drain electrodes 28 and 30 are formed by depositing and patterning a second metal layer. A portion 51 of the ohmic contact layer 54 on the active layer 52 is etched using the source and drain electrodes 28 and 30 as masks. If the ohmic contact layer 54 between the source and drain electrodes 28 and 30 is not removed, serious problems of deteriorated electrical characteristics and low efficiencies of the TFT "S" (see FIG. 2) can result. Etching the portion of the ohmic contact layer 54 over the gate electrode 26 requires special attention. While etching the ohmic contact layer 54, the active layer 52 is typically over-etched by about 50˜100 Å due to the fact that the active layer 52 and the ohmic contact layer 54 have no etch selectivity.
As shown in FIG. 3D, an insulating protection layer 56 is formed over the substrate 1 and over the source and drain electrodes 28 and 30. The protection layer protects the active layer 52. The protection layer is etched to form a drain contact hole 31 that is used to connect the drain electrode 30 to a pixel electrode 14 that is formed later.
Due to the unstable energy state of the active layer 52, and to residual substances that are generated during etching that can affect the electrical characteristics of the TFT, the protection layer 56 is usually made of an inorganic material, such as SiNx and SiO2, or an organic material such as a BCB (benzocyclobutene). In addition, the protection layer 56 should have a high light transmittance, a high humidity resistance, and a high durability in order to protect the channel area and major portions of a pixel region from humidity damage and scratches that can occur during later process steps.
FIG. 3D also shows a step of forming a pixel electrode 14 by depositing a Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) layer and by forming a photoresist "PR". Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO) is usually used for the Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) layer. The photoresist "PR" is a material which, when being subject to light irradiation through a mask, absorbs light energy to cause a photochemical reaction and to form a latent image. To obtain a high aperture ratio, a negative photoresist is preferably used. The portion of the photoresist that does not absorb light is removed during a developing process.
When using a negative photoresist, a back exposure is used in the patterning process. Namely, in the conventional method of fabricating an LCD device, the pixel electrode is formed using a negative photoresist in order to enhance the aperture ratio. With the negative photoresist in place, a back exposure and a front exposure are performed simultaneously to form the pixel electrode. As shown in FIG. 3D, areas "B" of the photoresist "PR" are exposed by the back exposure and area "F" of the photoresist "PR" is exposed by the front exposure. In the front exposure process, a mask 58 is required for the area "F" (which is not exposed by the back exposure) to make the pixel electrode 14 have a contact with the drain electrode 30.
Referring to FIG. 3E, a high aperture ratio is produced by the back exposure due to the fact that the area of the pixel electrode 14 is enlarged.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken line IV-IV of FIG. 2 and illustrates gate and data pads. A gate pad 21 is initially formed on the substrate 1. Then, the gate insulation layer 50 is deposited and etched to produce a gate pad contact hole that exposes a portion of the gate pad 21. A data pad 23 is then formed on the gate insulation layer 50. Then, the protection layer 56, which is patterned to have gate and data pad contact holes that expose the gate and data pads, is formed. Gate and data pad electrodes 62 and 60, which electrically connect to the gate and data pads 21 and 23, via the corresponding contact holes, are then formed on the protection layer 56.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the manufacturing process steps of the LCD device as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3E.
In the first step, ST200, a glass substrate is cleaned by a cleaning process. That cleaning process enhances adhesion between the substrate and the first metal layer by removing organic materials, alien substances, and particles from the substrate.
In the second step, ST210, the first metal layer, which may be of Aluminum or Molybdenum, is deposited. Then, the gate electrode and a first capacitor electrode, which are portions of the gate line, are formed by lithography.
In the third step, ST220, the gate insulation layer and the semiconductor layers (the active layer and the ohmic contact layer) are sequentially formed. The gate insulation layer is beneficially comprised of Silicon Oxide or of Silicon Nitride and has a thickness of about 3000 Å.
In the fourth step, ST230, the source and drain electrodes are formed by depositing and patterning a metallic material such as Chrome (Cr) or Cr-alloy.
In the fifth step, ST240, a channel region is formed by removing a portion of the doped amorphous silicon layer (ohmic contact layer) between the source and drain electrodes. In this step, the source and drain electrodes are used as masks.
In the sixth step, ST 250, the protection layer is formed to protect the other elements. The protection layer includes contact holes and is made of a material having a high light transmittance, a high humidity resistance, and a high durability.
In the seventh step, ST260, a transparent conductive electrode, beneficially comprised of ITO (Indium-Tin-Oxide) is-formed. Then, the pixel electrode is formed by using back and front exposures as previously described. The gate and data pad electrodes are also formed in this step.
As described above, the prior art requires various masks when fabricating the TFT array substrate of an LCD device, and each mask process requires several steps such as a cleaning step, a depositing step, a baking step and an etching step. Therefore, if the number of mask processes is decreased by only one mask, the throughput and manufacturing yields can dramatically increase and the manufacturing costs and time can be reduced. Furthermore, in the conventional art process of forming pixel electrodes, although a back exposure is used an additional mask for the front exposure is necessary.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of manufacturing an array substrate for use in a LCD device


Aminoalkylalkoxysilanes are prepared from halo(haloalkyl)silanes in the simultaneous presence of ammonia or primary organic amine and alcohol.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the production of aminoalkylalkoxy-silanes from the corresponding halo(haloalkyl)silanes by reaction with ammonia or organic amines and with alcohol.
2. Description of the Related Art
Aminoalkylalkoxysilanes are important intermediates in the industry. The amine functionality permits linking with further synthesis building blocks, for example for the formation of copolymers. Alkoxy groups on the silicon assume the function of binding to polysiloxane backbones.
Starting materials for the synthesis of the aminoalkylalkoxysilanes are usually the corresponding alkoxy(haloalkyl)silanes, which are converted to the aminoalkylalkoxysilanes using ammonia or organic amines. The alkoxy(haloalkyl)silanes required as chemical precursors for the amination are produced in the procedure via a separate, independent alkoxylation procedure.
Both alkoxylation and amination are each technically complex methods which can only be carried out in special apparatus. The alkoxylations require apparatus resistant to halohydric acids. Secondary reactions, for example, formation of water during reaction of alcohol with formed hydrogen halide to give alkyl halide can only be prevented by special methods, e.g. countercurrent methods, which ensure that hydrogen halide is removed quickly from the reaction mixture. DE 60315982 T2 equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 7,659,418, describes, for example, an apparatus for producing 3-chloropropylalkoxysilanes from the corresponding chloro(3-chloropropyl)silanes according to the countercurrent principle. JP 2003246789 describes the use of ammonia or organic amines in the alkoxylation, but this serves only for the removal of hydrogen chloride during the synthesis of the corresponding alkoxychloroalkylsilanes.
Animations, by contrast, require apparatus apparatus which is stable in basic environments. Due to low boiling point of especially ammonia and low molecular weight amines, these reactions are carried out industrially in steel autoclaves, in most cases under high pressure, to achieve short reaction times and/or high conversion. Fundamental work on this is described by Speier et al. in J. Org. Chem. 1971, 36, 3120-3126. Furthermore, aminoalkylalkoxysilanes—as likewise reported in J. Org. Chem. 1971, 36, 3120-3126—can be obtained by alcoholysis of silazanes.
DE 2521399, equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,460, describes the synthesis of aminoalkylalkoxysilanes proceeding from tri- and dialkoxy(chloroalkyl)silanes in the presence of alcohol as solvent addition. The added alcohol does not participate in the reaction but serves only as an inert additive. The starting material is the corresponding alkoxysilanes which have been produced via an independent reaction step.

Method for producing aminoalkylalkoxysilanes


A semiconductor laser is provided monolithically integrated on a substrate and has a cavity layer extending above a plane that is coplanar with a base surface of the substrate, is branched and includes a plurality of separately controllable regions. The laser is operated by changing charge carrier density in at least one of the regions so that it emits light at one of a first wavelength and a second wavelength in correspondence with the charge carrier density change.

The present invention is based on a semiconductor laser having a branched cavity layer.
Such a semiconductor laser is disclosed in Electronics Letters, Feb. 15, 1990, Vol. 26, No. 4, pages 243-244. It is monolithically integrated on an n-doped indium phosphide substrate. The underside of the substrate is called the base surface. Above a plane that is coplanar with the base surface, there extends a cavity layer of indium gallium arsenide phosphide (InGaAsP). It is branched and, when seen from the top, has the shape of a "Y". The top view surface of the cavity layer may also have a different shape, for example the shape of a cross. Significant is that the cavity layer is contiguous. This can be described in the sense of a topological definition in that the top view surface of the cavity layer can be considered to be a "singly contiguous region" since it is not composed of several pieces, but of a single piece having a single edge. The cavity layer lies on the planar surface of an n-doped buffer layer of indium phosphide that extends above the indium phosphide substrate.
Further layers are provided above the cavity layer. Above the buffer layer, these layers and the cavity layer form a mesa which has been produced by etching. In the plane that is coplanar with the base surface, the mesa as well as the cavity layer have a Y shape.
Such a laser with a branched cavity layer is provided according to the above-mentioned publication as an electrically controllable light source for optical communications transmission systems. In particular, if its metal layer extending above the cavity layer is subdivided into several electrodes so that cavity layer regions are created which can be controlled by means of different operating currents, such a laser is distinguished by its emission wavelength being tunable over a very wide wavelength range. This characteristic is of major importance for use as an electrically controllable light source as advocated in the publication.
Bistable components are gaining increasing significance for optical transmission. "Bistable" here means that, if actuated in the same manner, that is, with the same current or the same voltage, the component may assume two different states, that is, it emits light of a low or high intensity or light of a first wavelength or light of a second wavelength, depending on the manner in which the actuation state under observation has been realized.
Bistable components are suitable for use as optical switches or memories in wavelength multiplex switching systems and in optical data processing systems.
The publication IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 2, No. 9, September 1990, pages 623-625, discloses a DFB [distributed feedback] semiconductor laser composed of two segments and operated as a wavelength bistable memory. It can be set and reset within 450 picoseconds by means of electrical pulses. The DFB semiconductor laser in each case emits light at one of two wavelengths which are spaced from one another by 0.9 nm.

Method of operating a semiconductor laser as a bistable opto-electronic component


The present invention is a systematic and data-driven-decomposition (DDD) method and apparatus for use in VLSI synthesis. The invention decomposes a high level program circuit description into a collection of small and highly concurrent modules that can be implemented directly into transistor networks. This enables an automatic implementation of a decomposition process currently done by hand. Unlike prior art syntax-based decompositions, the method of the present invention examines data dependencies in the process' computation, and then attempts to eliminate unnecessary synchronization in the system. In one embodiment, the method comprises: a conversion to convert the input program into an intermediate Dynamic Single Assignment (DSA) form, a projection process to decompose the intermediate DSA into smaller concurrent processes, and a clustering process that optimally groups small concurrent processes to make up the final decomposition. Another embodiment is a decomposition, projection, and clustering tool implemented in computer program codes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) circuit design, and in particular to a method for VLSI synthesis based on data-driven decomposition (DDD).
2. Background Art
Asynchronous VLSI is heralded for its robustness, low power, and fast average-case performance. Many chip designers, however, are deterred from taking advantage of these qualities by the lack of a straightforward design approach.
In designing asynchronous VLSI systems, the formal synthesis of asynchronous VLSI systems begins with a sequential description of the circuit specification and results in a complex and highly concurrent network of transistors. This is accomplished through the application of a series of transformations that preserve the semantics of the program.
One synthesis method begins by describing circuits using a high-level language, Communicating Hardware Processes (CHP). Successive semantics-preserving program transformations are then applied, each generating a lower-level description of the circuit. The final output is a transistor netlist. This method is correct by construction, and every chip designed using this approach (including a 2M-transistor asynchronous MIPS R3000 microprocessor) has been functional on first silicon. However, until recently, the transformations have all been applied by hand, with heavy dependence upon simulations at every level.

Method for the synthesis of VLSI systems based on data-driven decomposition


An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear an image, an exposure unit configured to draw a scanning line on the image bearing member by exposing the image bearing member according to image data, and at least two detection units configured to detect an amount of deviation in exposing position due to the exposure unit. The image forming apparatus further includes a drive unit configured to drive an optical part located on an optical path extending from the exposure unit to the image bearing member to reduce the amount of deviation, a measurement unit configured to measure an amount of driving of the drive unit, an estimation unit configured to estimate a residual amount of deviation, and a modulation unit configured to modulate a writing frequency in the exposure unit based on the measured amount of driving to reduce the estimated residual amount of deviation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of, according to an electrophotographic method, capable of forming an electrostatic latent image with a laser beam scanning on the photosensitive drum, and developing a visible image on a recording medium by applying toner to the electrostatic latent image.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member by exposing the photosensitive member with a light flux output from an exposure device. In particular, it is desirable that scanning lines (the moving locus of a light flux) on the photosensitive member should be straight with no inclination. If the exposing position deviates from an ideal position, causing the scanning lines to be inclined or curved, the image quality will deteriorate. In the case of an image forming apparatus that forms multicolor images by using toners of different colors, if scanning lines on respective image bearing members have different amounts of deviation, so-called color misregistration becomes visually noticeable.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-170755, such a method is discussed as adjusting timing for writing scanning lines and adjusting the amount of exposure by measuring inclinations and curvatures of the scanning lines for each image height (the main scanning position) by using a number of registration detecting sensors arranged along the main scanning direction (along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum).
The prior art described above is fairly effective in improving color misregistration. However, if the inclination of the scanning line, which is one of the causes for color misregistration, is corrected, partial magnification of a scanning line changes. Therefore, it becomes necessary to correct the partial magnifications by forming a registration pattern again. When this correction process is executed, the image forming process is interrupted. Therefore, if the correction process is executed repeatedly, downtime, in which images cannot be formed, increases.
Furthermore, in the prior art, to correct the partial magnification with high accuracy, it is required to install the sensors in at least three positions along the main scanning direction. In that case, not only the number of components to be built in but also the number of patterns to be formed and the amount of signal processing to be executed will increase.


An approach for tracking IP telephony devices in a network generally involves detecting changes in physical connections of IP telephony devices to the network by evaluating address data for the IP telephony devices. Address data for the telephony devices is evaluated over time to detect changes that have occurred in physical connections. Status data is generated and provided to a network manager application that notifies administrative personnel of the changes. Other embodiments include verifying that a physical connection has changed after an initial detection by waiting a specified amount of time and then evaluating additional address data to determine whether the change still exists.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
IP telephony is a technology that allows voice telephone calls to be made over the worldwide packet data communications network known as the "Internet" without traversing the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN). The increased availability of low cost Internet access and inexpensive IP telephony devices make using the Internet for telephone calls particularly attractive for end users. Moreover, aside from the cost of Internet access, transmitting data over the Internet is free for end users.
Because of the benefits of IP telephony, some business organizations have installed IP telephones ("IP phones") that use a business organization's intranet for internal calls and the Internet for external calls. Each IP phone is a node on the network and has its own IP address and Media Access Control (MAC) layer address. A call manager manages calls in a manner similar to the way a switch manages calls in a conventional private branch exchange (PBX) and PSTN arrangement.
IP phone arrangements provide several advantages over conventional PBX arrangements. First, business organizations can use their existing broadband Internet access to make external calls, so additional Internet access connections are generally not required. Second, recurring costs can be significantly lower in IP phone arrangements since local and long distance telephone service charges are avoided completely. Although there is a capital expense required to purchase the IP phones, the long-term savings can easily exceed this expense. Third, IP phones are very mobile since the phone extension and privileges are associated with the physical IP phone, instead of a physical connection. Thus, IP phones can be physically moved within an organization and the IP phones retain their phone extensions and privileges.
Despite the advantages provided by IP phone arrangements over conventional PBX arrangements, IP phone arrangements do have some drawbacks. One problem is that unauthorized individuals can obtain and move an IP phone to another location and then access all of the privileges associated with the IP phone. This problem may be more prevalent in medium and large size organizations that have large numbers of IP phones that are difficult to track. Another problem is that IP phones are subject to being "hacked" by devices that have connectivity to the Internet and that "spoof" the MAC address of the IP phones. Such devices are sometimes referred to as "phantom" phones.
Based upon the foregoing, there is a need for an approach for tracking IP telephony devices in networks. There is a particular need for an approach for tracking IP phones in networks that detects changes in physical connections of IP phones. There is yet a further need for an approach for tracking IP phones in networks that includes reporting of changes in physical connections of IP phones.

Approach for tracking internet protocol telephony devices in networks


A method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray wherein a monomolecular film for immobilizing a target molecule can be simply formed position-selectively in manufacture of the substrate for making the microarray is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to analysis technology involved in gene sequences in analyses of biologically functional molecules, particularly DNA sequences and in genetic diagnosis, and a method for manufacturing a substrate for making a device for analysis used for those analyses.
2. Description of the Related Art
The analysis technology for DNA sequences of genes including human genomic analysis has been advanced rapidly in recent years, and has been developed for the study on gene functions and diagnosis of diseases by the gene based on that information. Numerous studies on so-called DNA chips, DNA microarrays as the technology for performing these analyses and functional studies of the genes on a large scale in a short time have been performed.
In the DNA microarray, DNA having the particular sequence is immobilized in a microspace and a DNA strand having a complementary sequence in a sample is detected. As a methodology for making the DNA microarray capable of processing on a large scale and with high speed, a method of making the microarray modified with various DNA in surprisingly few steps by performing a position-selective synthesis of DNA sequences over multiple stages using photolithography which is a method for making a semiconductor has been proposed in CHEMTECH February 1997, pp. 22. According to this, a possibility has been shown that the microarray for examining more than one billion DNA sequences at the same time can be make by repeating binding of methodically and position-selectively different nucleotides 15 times.
Meanwhile, if the DNA strand having the above complementary sequence can be electrically detected, it becomes possible to analyze by a high speed and simple method. Domestic Re-publication of WO2003/087798 and Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 2005-77210-A have been already known as attempts to make the microarray using a semiconductor apparatus for the purpose of such an electric detection. In these semiconductor apparatuses, the presence or absence of the complementary DNA strand is detected on a microchip as a practical application of a sensor by a field effect transistor known conventionally.
By the way, to make the DNA microarray capable of analyzing on a large scale and with high speed, it is necessary to immobilize the DNA strand on the substrate for making the microarray position-selectively to the microspace and not to cause problems such as detachment. In order to analyze the biologically functional molecules including DNA molecules, as the method for two-dimensionally immobilizing them on a metal, the method of using specific absorption of a sulfur atom on a gold surface is known and described in, for example, Domestic Re-publication of WO2003/087798. Meanwhile, the method in which a monomolecular film having a silicon oxide chain is formed on the substrate so that the immobilized molecule is not detached and an enzyme is certainly immobilized on the semiconductor, and the enzyme is immobilized on an alkyl chain extending from a silicon atom has been known quite some time ago, and disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 62-50657-A. This method is also mentioned to be applicable in Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 2005-77210-A.
For making the microarray, when a material for recognition of such as DNA or a peptide is immobilized on the substrate, the above method of using the monomolecular film having the silicon oxide chain is the method for immobilization in which the above-mentioned problem such as detachment hardly occurs.
But, if this method is used, when actually a oxidized film formed on the substrate although the surface of the substrate is formed of a metal oxide or a metal, the monomolecular film having the silicon oxide chain forms a film on the overall surface.
Thus, when the monomolecular film is placed position-selectively, it is useful to protect with a resist film. However, when a novolak resist used in commonsense for forming a pattern requiring the accuracy in approximately micron orders or a resist for processing the semiconductor developed for KrF excimer having a some excessive miniaturization performance is used, the resist film itself reacts with the material for forming the monomolecular film and the monomolecular film is also formed on the resist film. Thus, extremely complicated manipulations are required for forming the film position-selectively.
Therefore, it is substantially impossible to use such a resist for processing the semiconductor for manufacturing the substrate for making the microarray. A resist technology capable of simply forming the monomolecular film in position-selectively has been desired.

Method for manufacturing substrate for making microarray

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray, comprising, a step of forming a resist film on the substrate using a chemically amplified positive resist composition using a copolymer where a content of a monomer unit having a hydroxyl group is 5 mole % or less relative to total monomer units as a binder; a step of patterning the resist film; a step of forming a monomolecular film having a silicon oxide chain on the substrate having the patterned resist film; and subsequently a step of removing the resist film.


The present disclosure includes methods and systems for searching for digital visual media based on semantic and spatial information. In particular, one or more embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods identify digital visual media displaying targeted visual content in a targeted region based on a query term and a query area provide via a digital canvas. Specifically, the disclosed systems and methods can receive user input of a query term and a query area and provide the query term and query area to a query neural network to generate a query feature set. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods can compare the query feature set to digital visual media feature sets. Further, based on the comparison, the disclosed systems and methods can identify digital visual media portraying targeted visual content corresponding to the query term within a targeted region corresponding to the query area.

Recent years have seen rapid technological development in the arena of digital visual media searching. Indeed, as a result of the proliferation of personal computing devices and digital cameras, individuals and businesses now routinely manage large repositories of digital images and digital videos. Accordingly, digital visual media searching has become a ubiquitous need for individuals and businesses in a variety of scenarios ranging from casual users seeking to locate specific moments from a personal photo collection to professional graphics designers sorting through stock images to enhance creative projects.
In response, developers have created a variety of digital searching systems that can search digital visual media. In large part, these conventional digital searching systems fall within two major search paradigms: search by text-based searches (i.e., systems that utilize a keyword to search a repository of digital images) and search by similar image (i.e., systems that utilize an existing digital image to search for similar digital images). Although these conventional digital search systems are capable of identifying digital visual media portraying certain content, they also have a number of shortcomings. For example, although conventional digital search systems are able to identify content in digital images, such conventional digital search systems are unable to efficiently identify digital visual content reflecting a particular spatial configuration.
To illustrate, users often seek to find digital images with a specific visual arrangement of objects. For example, a professional designer may need a digital image portraying a specific object in a particular location for a creative project. Existing digital systems allow users to search for digital images portraying specific content, but cannot accurately identify digital images based on spatial arrangement.
To illustrate this point, FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the results of conventional search systems for an image of a person holding a tennis racket on their left. FIG. 1A illustrates the results of a conventional text-based search, while FIG. 1B illustrates the results of a conventional similar image based search. As shown, FIG. 1A illustrates, a word query 102 is limited in its capability to reflect spatial features in a search. Specifically, the word query 102 can describe desired content (i.e., "Tennis Racket"), but fails to provide an avenue for imposing accurate spatial constraints. Indeed, although the word query 102 includes text describing a particular configuration (i.e., "Left"), such a term fails to translate into a meaningful search result. Thus, as shown, the word search results 102a portray digital images that include tennis rackets; however, the spatial configuration of the tennis rackets portrayed within the digital images is haphazard. Accordingly, a user seeking a picture of a person holding a tennis racket to their left will have to sort through the word search results 102a in an attempt to find a digital image that matches the desired spatial arrangement.
Similarly, as shown, the image query 104 is limited in its ability to reflect spatial information in a search. As an initial matter, to search for a digital image of a person holding a tennis racket on their left, the image query 104 requires an image of a person holding a tennis racket on their left. Of course, this imposes a significant inconvenience on the user, inasmuch as the lack of an example digital image is the very reason for conducting a search in the first place. Even assuming, however, that a user already has an image of a person holding a tennis racket on their left to generate the image query 104, the image query 104 fails to adequately incorporate spatial concepts into the search. Indeed, although the image search results 104a generally include tennis rackets and tennis players, the image search results 104 portray tennis rackets in a variety of different spatial configurations. Thus, a user seeking a picture of a person holding a tennis racket to their left will have to sort through the image search results 104a in an attempt to find a digital image that matches the desired spatial arrangement.
As shown, conventional digital search systems generally lack the ability to return accurate search results for images with a particular spatial arrangement of objects.

Utilizing a digital canvas to conduct a spatial-semantic search for digital visual media